Senior Citizens Behind Maldives’ Progress and Development, Says First Lady

First Lady Sajidha Mohamed said that senior citizens are the true masters behind the progress and development that the Maldivian nation is witnessing.

She made these remarks while speaking at a ceremony held on Sunday evening to commemorate the first anniversary of the ‘Isravvehinge Naadhee,’ a dedicated social centre for senior citizens.

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In her speech, she emphasised that instead of viewing senior citizens merely as elderly people, we need to recognise them as pioneers who sacrificed their youth and lives in difficult conditions for our present-day happiness. She added that the current generation is indebted to senior citizens for their sacrifices and must show them respect.

She noted that despite their lack of available resources and facilities such as healthcare or advanced education, they still worked hard to ensure these facilities would be available for future generations of Maldivians.

Highlighting the importance of senior citizens in enhancing the nation’s stature, she appealed to those present at the ceremony to share their experiences. She urged students to learn from the knowledge and experience of senior citizens while calling upon young people to benefit from their intellectual, philosophical, and skilled expertise.

The logo and membership card of the centre were also unveiled at the ceremony.

Isravvehinge Naadhee was inaugurated on February 17, 2024, by President Dr Mohamed Muizzu and First Lady Sajidha Mohamed. The facility, opened in Male’, is the first centre built under this Government’s initiative to construct special social centres dedicated to senior citizens.