Mayor Raises Alarm Over Worsening Conditions at IGMH Following NICU Outbreak
Mayor Adam Azim at a Malé City Council meeting. | Photo credit: Malé City Council
Mayor of Malé City Adam Azim has raised concern over the state of health services at the Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) following an outbreak of a deadly pathogen in the hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
In a post on X, Azim expressed frustration after five infants contracted the disease while on ventilator support, two of whom remain in critical condition. The outbreak, which began on 27 March, was only made public on 2nd May.
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އައިޖީއެމްއެޗުން، ޑިސްއިންފެކްޓަންޓު ހުސްވެފައި ހުއްޓައި، އައިޖީއެމްއެޗްގެ ތުއްތު ކުދިންނަށް ފަރުވާ ދޭ ޔުނިޓް، އެންއައިސީޔޫގައި ނުރައްކާތެރި ބައްޔެއް ފެތުރި ގިނަ ކުދިންތަކަކަށް އެ ބަލި ޖެހި އެ ކުދިންގެ ހާލުވަނީ ވަރަށް ބޮޑަށް ދަށްވެފައި. މާލެ ސިޓީގެ ރައްޔިތުން އަދި ރާއްޖޭގެ ގިނަ…— Mayor of Male’ City – Adam Azim (@adamazim) May 3, 2025
“It is unacceptable that the health services at the main hospital, where the people of Malé City and most of the country are receiving medical care, are in such a bad shape,” Azim said. He added that many residents had been seeking treatment while complaining about the lack of access to medicine in the capital.
Azim further urged government institutions to reduce wasteful expenditure and prioritise public healthcare and other essential services.
އިންދިރާ ގާންދީ މެމޯރިއަލް ހޮސްޕިޓަލްގެ ނިއޯނޭޓަލް އިންޓެންސިވް ކެއަރ ޔުނިޓްގައި ދިމާވި، މަލްޓި ޑްރަގް ރެސިސްޓަންޓް (އެމް.ޑީ.އާރ.)ގެ ކޭސްއާގުޅޭ pic.twitter.com/aOQ4UBj6wb— IGMH (@igmhmv) May 1, 2025
Commenting on the situation, Dr Nazla Musthafa, a senior physician at IGMH, told Adhadhu that disinfectant wipes were being used to clean the NICU prior to the outbreak. However, at the time the pathogen spread, the supply of disinfectant had run out and bleach was being used instead.
Dr Nazla said she has yet to determine why disinfectant stock had depleted, particularly in such a sensitive area of the hospital.
The hospital has not yet issued a public explanation for the delay in disclosing the outbreak.
