Minister of Health Ahmed Naseem has revealed over 2,400 health workers are employed to curb the COVID-19 situation in the Maldives.
Responding to questions from parliamentarians, the minister said 2,460 health workers are at the facilities providing treatment for COVID-19 patients. Minister Naseem also said the Maldives has enough machinery, medical resources, and oxygen cylinders to avoid any shortages.
The Hulhumale' Medical Facility is the largest COVID-19 treatment facility in the country, with 265 beds and 214 workers, including 39 medical doctors, 122 nurses, 142 medical students, as well as support staff, specialists, physicians, and administrative employees. The facility also consists of a 17-bed ventilator facility.
Furthermore, the COVID-19 ward at the Dharumavantha Hospital consists of 28 beds with ICU support and 11 beds with ventilator support. In addition, Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) consists of 91 workers including specialist doctors, nurses, and assistants. Meanwhile, the COVID-19 facility at the Hulhumale' Hospital consists of 85 beds including 5 beds with ventilator support, as well as a staff of 262 workers.
Minister Naseem said all atoll hospitals, except for 12 hospitals, have ventilator facilities. He also said the government is willing to re-allocate 40% of the country's workforce in the health sector to manage the COVID-19 pandemic if the situation worsens. He added the oxygen plants established in various parts of the country are producing enough oxygen cylinders, and that there are currently 5,700 jumbo-sized cylinders in reserve.