President ratifies Public Health Bill

President Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik on Monday ratified the Public Health Bill, which was passed by the Parliament on the 26th sitting of its third session on November 28. The objectives of the Public Health Act include, protect and promote public health, control the risk to public health, promote the control of infectious diseases, prevent the spread of infectious diseases and recognize the role of island councils, atoll councils and city councils in protecting public health. The Act provides for development of mandatory reporting provisions for communicable diseases to ensure that necessary information is collected for public health...

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Posted in: Health / HIV

President appoints Dr Abdul Samad Abdulla as Acting Minister of Health

Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Abdul Samad Abdulla has been appointed as the Acting Minister of Health. Samad was appointed the position by the President pending the return of Minister of Health Dr Ahmed Jamsheed Mohamed, who is on an official visit abroad. Samad’s latest appointment follows on from Minister of Environment and Energy Dr Mariyam Shakeela last month being given a dual cabinet role as Acting Minister of Gender, Family and Human Rights. Dr Shakeela has previously told Minivan News that she was confident of being able to effectively perform her duties for both ministries. via Minivan Ne...

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Posted in: Health / HIV

Maldives identifies “first” child HIV infection

Senior health figures have called on the government, NGOs and members of the private sector to help step up attempts to promote AIDS prevention in the country after authorities discovered that a two year-old child had tested HIV positive earlier this year. While accepting that HIV infection rates remained relatively low in the Maldives, Minister of State for Health Lubna Zahir Hussain said that efforts needed to be increased across all sectors of society to tackle attitudes towards high-risk behaviours that allow the virus to be transmitted. Lubna heads the National Drug Agency (NDA). Her comments followed the hosting of a special...

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Posted in: Health / HIV

DNA testing reveals child sex offender

DNA testing has revealed that a 37 year-old man impregnated a 11 year-old girl in the Feydhoo ward of Addu City, police have said, after concluding investigation of a case that prompted shock and public outrage last month. The 11 year-old victim in Seenu Feydhoo gave birth two months prematurely on November 1 after being taken to hospital complaining of stomach pains. The infant died in the early hours of the following morning (November 2). On November 4, police confirmed that a 37 year-old male suspect had been taken into custody in connection to the case. In a press briefing on Thursday, Inspector Hassan Shifau, acting head ...

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Posted in: News

Schrodinger's Cat

by Warm Pixels For me to live life in a place as suffocating as the Maldives is sheer torture, and I bet most Maldivians wouldn't understand, not even my closest friends or even Firefly. I'm not talking about the lack of entertainment, like theaters, malls, bowling alleys and rinks. Do we have any of those? Nope. Not even the only three theaters in the entire country are working. I want to be able to hold hands with Firefly.  You see, it's not possible here. Nor would my friends understand, even though they're okay with it, nor would Firefly, because they're just not into holding hands and such things. I miss him,...

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Posted in: True Stories

Man sentenced to 15 years imprisonment for sexual abuse of child

Noonu Kudafari Magistrate Court has sentenced a man to 15 years imprisonment after he was convicted to have had sexually abused a child with whom he had a relationship of trust and confidence.  The convicted man is Moosa Didi, 45, from Vaadhoo, Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll.  The incident in question occurred last year, on the 24th of March. The sentence was pronounced last Thursday.  Moosa Didi was sentenced under Section 9(a) and 9(b) of the Act on Special Measures against Sexual Abuse of Children.  According to the section, any person in a relationship of trust and confidence with a child sexually abuses the...

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Posted in: News

Bill on death penalty drafted, unclear on action on past sentences: AG Shakoor

Attorney General (AG) Azima Shakoor stated on Thursday that the government’s bill on implementing death penalty would be made public early in the coming week. Speaking at a press conference in Velaanaage, Shakoor confirmed that the AG’s office had completed drafting the bill, which was now in the final stages of discussion. She confirmed that the bill would be made public on the office’s website in the coming week, stating the matter “is very much connected to public sentiments and a large number of people feel this matter needs a fast solution”. Saying that “it was a pity” that three weeks had passed in the drafting stage,...

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Posted in: Politics / Religion

Death Penalty Bill to be open for public poll

Press Secretary Abbas Adil Riza has said that the death penalty implementation bill drafted by the Attorney General at the request of President Dr. Mohamed Waheed Hassan will be open for public poll soon on the website of the Attorney General. Abbas said that the bill will be sent to the Peoples’ Majlis with the thoughts of the public regarding the bill. Abbas said that the President Dr. Waheed ordered to draft the bill within 3 weeks time on October 9. He said that this was done after holding discussions with the relevant authorities. He said that all the leaders who participated in these discussions requested the President that a law...

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Posted in: Politics / Religion

“Worst fears over HIV coming true”: Health Minister

Minister of Health Dr Ahmed Jamsheed Mohamed has expressed concern about the risks of HIV spreading rapidly in the Maldives, stating that “our worst fears seem to be coming true.” Jamsheed said that although the Maldives had remained on the HIV less-prevalent category since the first HIV positive case was found in 1991, “all the habits that may lead to the spread of HIV is excessively in practice here,” stating that it was only through “incredible luck” that the disease had not already spread widely throughout the country. At the press conference on Sunday, Jamsheed said: “What has always worried me most is that there is a large drug...

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Posted in: Health / HIV

Local actor and famous transsexual among six arrested for possessing illegal drugs

Police have arrested local actor Ibrahim ‘Dhaas’ Giyas along with another man and four women while they were inside a house in Galolhu ward, in possession of illegal drugs and a large amount of cash. In a statement, police said two men and four women were arrested for being in possession of illegal drugs inside the house. The statement did not reveal the identity of those arrested, but local newspapers confirmed that Giyas was among those taken into custody. According to police, the group was inside a house called Kamadhoo when police officers searched their room on the ground floor, and discovered six bullet-sized rubber packets containing...

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Posted in: Society

Religious NGO plans Male’ protest in support of death penalty

Religious NGO “Muslimunge Gulhun” yesterday told local media that it is organising a demonstration calling on the state to implement and enact the death penalty. The demonstration, to be called ‘Thanfeez’ – translated as “implement – is scheduled to be held at 4:oopm on Friday (October 19) at the Artificial Beach area of Male’. The demonstration will mainly focus on advocating for the death penalty, which organisers believe will to bring an end to murders occurring in the Maldives, according to a press briefing held at Muslimunge Gulhun head office. The NGO further stated that the demonstrations would also be used to advocate...

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Posted in: Politics / Religion,Society

Revised penal code to be sent to Majlis

Naifaru MP Ahmed Mohamed has told Sun Online that a review of the Penal Code is due to be sent to the Majlis later this month. The bill – first sent to the Majlis in 2006 – is set to replace the 1961 code, and includes 1204 articles, reported Sun. “We are now completing the pending items which were set aside earlier, and obtaining opinions of different groups on these matters. If the Parliament continues without disruption, we can send the bill to the Parliament floor before the end of the month,” Ahmed said. “The penalties have been revised to suit current times. Exile has been eliminated almost completely,” he added. Ahmed said the bill was long-overdue, having been delayed due to parliamentary unrest and lack of space. He anticipated that the bill would...

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Posted in: News

Threat of HIV pandemic in Maldives: State Health Minister

State Health Minister Lubna Mohamed Zahir Hussain on Wednesday night said that there is an increased risk of the HIV spread in the Maldives. At the ceremony held at Traders hotel to celebrate the conclusion of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) five year project to raise awareness on Aids, financed by the Global Fund, State Health Minister and National Drug Agency Chairperson Lubna said that it has been found that there has been an increase in behavior leading to HIV in the Maldives. She highlighted that the risk for the young generation from these acts is high. “Such things (dangerous actions) can cause an increased spread...

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Posted in: Health / HIV

Waheed government submits bill to facilitate death penalty

The government has announced its intention to introduce a bill to the People’s Majlis in order to guide and govern the implementation of the death penalty in the country. “It is currently a punishment passed by the judiciary and a form of punishment available within the penal system of the Maldives,” said Home Minister Dr Mohamed Jameel Ahmed. “But for full guidance and matters governing the matter, legislation is required,” he added. Judiciary and human rights The last execution in the Maldives came in 1953 when Hakim Didi was charged with attempting to assassinate President Ameen using black magic. Since that...

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Posted in: Politics / Religion