Health.
Health Minister Jeela Ali revealed that since 1991, the total number of people diagnosed with HIV in the Maldives has exceeded 70, with approximately 52 individuals currently living with the disease. While smoking cessation services have been expanded to all islands of the Maldives, more than 2,000 people have sought this service, and hundreds of them have quit smoking completely. On September 30, 2026, the government doubled the monthly allowance for more than 500 thalassemia children from MVR 1,000 to MVR 2,000, and arranged financial assistance through the Zakat Fund for 28 children to undergo bone marrow transplants abroad. In addition, IGMH announced that practical work on the newly established post-mortem unit in the Maldives is preparing to commence near the Hulhumalé cemetery within two months.
The number of people contracting HIV in the Maldives has risen to a record high this year, according to statistics released by the Ministry of Health on September 30, 2026. Based on information provided by Health Minister Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim, 22 people have tested positive for HIV so far this year alone, marking the highest number of cases reported within a single year since the disease was first detected in the Maldives. To date, the total number of people diagnosed with HIV in the Maldives has reached 76; among them, 24 have died, leaving 52 individuals currently living with the disease. The Health Ministry also highlighted that the primary mode of transmission in the Maldives is through unsafe sexual intercourse, and that efforts are underway to raise awareness at a national level.
Highlighting the initiatives carried out by the Ministry of Health and the achievements made by the ministry to encourage smoking cessation, numerous efforts have commenced to protect public health. Under programs conducted on the initiative of the Health Ministry to safeguard the community from the perils of tobacco consumption, remarkable progress has been achieved in extending support to many parties to quit smoking and in increasing awareness. The ministry notes that these efforts will add momentum to the government's work to build a healthy society.
The government has arranged the provision of allowances and necessary financial assistance for bone marrow transplants to thalassemia children. Under this assistance, special priority has been given to resolving the treatment difficulties faced by children enduring thalassemia and to continuously providing financial allowances to those children. Moreover, this assistance carried out by relevant state authorities to facilitate bone marrow transplants and ease the burden on families in securing required medical treatment is an important step taken toward improving the health, well-being, and standard of living for such children.
Practical work on the post-mortem unit being established to provide post-mortem services in the Maldives was officially inaugurated on Wednesday, 30 September 2026. The commencement of practical work on this project is an important step toward strengthening the Maldives' health and legal sectors and fully providing forensic services required for death investigations within the country. Once this unit is established, it will bring great relief from the difficulties and expenses incurred due to having to send deceased bodies abroad for post-mortems, and will further expedite case investigations. Additionally, it is expected that significant advancements will be brought to the Maldives' criminal justice system once the practical work on this unit is completed and services commence.
