More Than Two Decades of Selfless Contribution to the Diabetic Community in the Maldives – Story of Aishath Shiruhana, CEO of DSM

When she applied for an open position as an Admin Executive at the Diabetes Society of Maldives (then Diabetic and Cancer Society of Maldives) in 2001, little did Aishath Shiruhana know that this will eventually become an inseparable part of her life.  
 
Back in the day, Shiruhana herself had little knowledge of diabetes and its prominence in the Maldivian society. Many went on with their lives with little knowledge of whether they have the condition or not, and how it impacts their lifestyle. A lot of work had to be put in initially by the NGO to create awareness, encourage people to test for diabetes and teach proper lifestyle adjustments to live with the condition.  
 
Shiruhana recalls the immense effort she put in to DSM as a leading member of the NGO. She appreciates being given the opportunity by her mentors to design and execute different projects with the team. The independence allowed Shiruhana to explore and network with stakeholders of the health sector locally, and get support from international NGOs for various projects.  

Boduberu Series Royal Edition with Blue Leather wristband presented by Maldives Wave to Aishath Shiruhana, as a token for her selfless contributions to making a difference in society.

It took immense effort to kick off series of Screening Programs in the islands and have the islanders attend to these free sessions. Major challenges were identified as the lack of knowledge about diabetes among islanders. In order to tackle this, DSM launched the promising ‘Project 200 Islands’ to train at least one healthcare provider from each island as a focal point for diabetic patients. This project was also crucial in establishing a nation-wide network for convenient communication within the concerned society.  
 
Today, there are certified educators on almost every island for diabetic patients. The project won international recognition for its success, and Shiruhana is humbled to have been a lead in its execution. She is backed with continuing support from staff and volunteers from across the nation.  
 
Fast forward to two decades, DSM has made significant contributions in the society under the watchful guidance of Shiruhana. ‘Save a Diabetic Child’ project ensuring every diabetic child in the Maldives secures access to medication, and the Free Clinic setup in 2008 have given hope for diabetic patients to live a normal life without much complication.  
 
There are currently almost 2000 diabetic patients registered with DSM in Maldives, and they are family to Shiruhana. Every single one of these patients keep in close touch with her, and praise her for being available at even the most challenging times. The pandemic was a wake-up call to the health sector outlining the importance of NGOs such as DSM being a lifeline for critical patients in the Maldives.  
 
As the Chief Executive Officer of DSM today, Shiruhana dreams of running an intervention program in the country. Documenting the impact of the diagnosis in the progress of diabetic patients will become powerful research in the field, a first in the nation.  
 
Shiruhana has dedicated a great deal of her life to making a difference in the lives of young and old diabetic patients, and she would not trade those moments for anything else.