A petition launched by Tiny Hearts of Maldives, a non-governmental organisation based in the Maldives, has secured the second-highest number of signatures among several global campaigns coordinated by the World Heart Federation. The achievement places the Maldives in a unique position to advocate for increased international funding for heart disease at an upcoming United Nations high-level meeting.
The petition is part of a wider initiative led by the World Heart Federation to shape the agenda of the UN meeting on non-communicable diseases, scheduled for later this year. The federation has urged world leaders to expand investment in treatment, public awareness, and advocacy for cardiovascular conditions. In support of this effort, the organisation partnered with Change.org, a global petition platform, to launch ten campaigns focused on personal stories and challenges related to heart disease.
Among these efforts, the petition spotlighting Tiny Hearts of Maldives has gained significant traction. With the second-largest number of signatures globally, the organisation sees this as a critical opportunity for the Maldives to contribute meaningfully to the international conversation on heart health. According to the NGO, fewer than 50 additional signatures are needed for the petition to become the most signed among the ten, a distinction that would further elevate its visibility at the forthcoming UN meeting.
"The Maldives is becoming a country with the opportunity to advocate for heart diseases internationally, which is why we need to secure more signatures for this cause,” said Jeehan Mahmood, Chairperson of Tiny Hearts of Maldives. “We want this petition to receive as many signatures as possible from within the Maldives."
This year also marks a milestone for the World Heart Federation: the 25th anniversary of its designation of 29 September as World Heart Day. Since joining the Federation in 2017, Tiny Hearts of Maldives has remained an active member, organising annual awareness programmes in observance of the day and reinforcing its commitment to cardiovascular health advocacy.