New WHO Representative Presents Credentials to Foreign Minister
Ms Payden presents her Letter of Credence to Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Abdulla Khaleel. | Photo credit: Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The new World Health Organisation (WHO) Representative to the Maldives, Ms Payden, presented her Letter of Credence to Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Abdulla Khaleel on Monday.
According to a statement from the Ministry, Dr Khaleel acknowledged the WHO’s role in the development of the Maldives’ healthcare system and highlighted progress made in public health. Areas noted included disease prevention, increased access to healthcare, and improved capacity to respond to health emergencies.
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WHO Representative to the Maldives presents Letter of Credence to Foreign Minister Dr. Khaleel
📃 Press Release | https://t.co/KsXY5rK3lJ pic.twitter.com/tgJz4YfDxd— Ministry of Foreign Affairs 🇲🇻 (@MoFAmv) May 20, 2025
Ms Payden is reported to have reaffirmed the WHO’s continued support to the Government in efforts to further strengthen the health sector.
The Ministry also stated that Dr Khaleel expressed gratitude to the WHO for awarding the WHO Director-General’s Special Award for Tobacco Control to President Dr Mohamed Muizzu. He is said to have highlighted the Government’s recent measures, including the First Amendment to the Tobacco Control Act and the decision to implement a generational tobacco ban for those born on or after 1 January 2007.
The statement noted that 2025 marks 60 years since the establishment of the WHO Country Office in the Maldives in 1965.
