Government’s Efforts In Ensuring Vaccine Equity Praised By The UN Resident Coordinator For The Maldives

On 2^nd March, the UN Resident Coordinator For The Maldives, Ms. Catherine Haswell, made a statement praising the Maldivian Government’s efforts in ensuring vaccine equity and leaving no one behind in the National Vaccination Programme, "COVID-19 Dhifaau".

Whilst over 123,000 people have been vaccinated in the Maldives since commencing the vaccination drive on 1^st February, the priority was on vaccinating the front‑line workers and people in high-risk groups. She also highlights the Maldivian Red Crescent’s (MRC) efforts on vaccinating undocumented migrants for on government access.

In the statement, she also highlights coordination and organizational contributions of the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF in conducting the COVID-19 vaccination programme in the Maldives, noting the logistics and training assistance provided for healthcare workers, in addition to the facilities established to store vaccines.

She also assured that the Maldivian team in the UN is committed to support vaccine access to the island nation along with administering the vaccine to all the Maldivians and residents in Maldives.

At present, in the Maldives, those above 18 are receiving vaccines in the capital region with priority being given to frontline workers, elderly persons and high-risk individuals in distributing vaccines in the islands.