Government Expands Healthcare Services in Haa Alifu Atoll With New Facilities
New health centre extension and lab services launched in Haa Alifu | Photo: Health Ministry
The government has officially opened a new extension to the Thuraakunu Health Centre and inaugurated laboratory services at the Marandhoo Health Centre in Haa Alifu Atoll, marking a continued effort to strengthen healthcare access in the northern atolls.
The two developments form part of a broader initiative to decentralise medical services and reduce the need for residents to travel to Malé for basic healthcare.
advertisement
The extension at Thuraakunu Health Centre was inaugurated during a ceremony attended by Minister of Health Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim and Minister of Economic Development and Trade Mohamed Saeed, alongside officials from both ministries, members of the Thuraakunu Council, and staff of the health centre.
The newly developed extension includes an office section, a public health room, a storeroom, and a meeting room, and is expected to enhance operational efficiency and improve patient care. The existing facility operates for eight hours a day and includes a six-bed ward and laboratory services.
During the visit, Minister Nazim also met with the health centre’s senior management to discuss ongoing challenges and service improvements, while reaffirming the government’s focus on strengthening healthcare services in smaller island communities.
In a parallel development, a new laboratory service has been launched at Marandhoo Health Centre, representing the 14th facility established under a nationwide programme to expand diagnostic services across the atolls. The service is expected to significantly improve access to essential testing, as residents previously had to travel to nearby islands for basic diagnostics.
The Marandhoo Health Centre currently operates for 16 hours a day and includes a three-bed ward, with plans already in place for the construction of a new building as part of continued development.
These initiatives contribute to the government’s wider target of establishing laboratory services in 76 islands within the year, aimed at improving accessibility and efficiency in healthcare delivery across the Maldives.
