In a nation defined by its unique geography, where communities are spread across distant islands, public health security depends on how effectively the system reaches its most remote populations. In February 2026, Maldives marked a transformative milestone in strengthening this reach with the graduation of 15 participants from the Frontline Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP). Spearheaded by Health Protection Agency, this achievement represents a critical step toward building a self-reliant, highly skilled public health workforce capable of detecting and responding to threats at their source.A defining feature of this cohort is the adoption of a sustainable Training of Trainers model. The programme was delivered by national trainers from Ministry of Health who had previously been certified through the Intermediate FETP in 2025 with WHO’s support. This cascading approach ensures that knowledge is continuously transferred, expanded, and adapted within the country, reducing reliance on external support over time. It is a model that reflects both efficiency and resilience, allowing Maldives to build expertise from within while maintaining alignment with global standards.This achievement was made possible through strong regional collaboration. Technical foundations and curriculum expertise were supported by regional partners, while strategic guidance and investment were provided through collaboration with the World Health Organization South-East Asia Regional Office and WHO Country Office for India. At the national level, experienced mentors from the Health Protection Agency provided hands-on guidance, ensuring that participants gained practical, real-world skills in surveillance and outbreak investigation. This synergy between local ownership and regional support has been key to the programme’s success.The Pandemic Fund played a catalytic role in enabling this progress. Through its support for the implementation of the National Action Plan for FETP, 15 health professionals from across the atolls were equipped with the skills needed to function as frontline disease detectives. These graduates are now able to identify unusual health events, investigate outbreaks, and initiate timely responses; often before laboratory confirmation is available. In a country where speed and early detection are critical, this capability is invaluable.As these graduates return to their respective islands, they carry with them not only technical expertise but also a renewed sense of national responsibility. They represent a new generation of public health leaders, strengthening surveillance systems from the ground up and ensuring that no community is left behind. This initiative reflects a broader vision of a self-reliant Maldives, where health security is built on local capacity, sustained investment, and strong partnerships.Ministry of Health, Health Protection Agency, and World Health Organization Maldives extend their sincere appreciation to the Pandemic Fund and regional partners for their continued commitment to this vision. By investing in people, systems, and science, Maldives is not only strengthening its preparedness today but also safeguarding the health of future generations. This journey stands as a powerful example of what it means to come together for health and to stand firmly with science; echoing the global call of World Health Day 2026. This article is first published at WHO Maldives website on Frontline Guardians: Field Epidemiology in the MaldivesTo learn more about the works of WHO Maldives Please visit WHO Maldives | World Health Organization

The global movement to end Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) has shifted its focus toward a long-term strategy centered on increased investment and sustained commitment. For the Maldives, this message is particularly timely. While progress has been made in reducing the prevalence of FGM, emerging risks remind us that sustaining progress requires resources, evidence and strengthened alliances. FGM is a human rights violation that infringes on the fundamental rights of girls and women, and can have short-term to lifelong health impacts on their physical, sexual and mental health. Ending FGM is not only a public health imperative, but a matter of dignity, equality, and justice.Progress achieved - but not securedNational survey data show a clear generational decline in FGM in the Maldives. Older women are significantly more likely to have undergone FGM than younger cohorts, indicating that the practice has reduced over time. This decline reflects years of improved access to health services, education, and shifting social norms.The data from the Maldives Demographic and Health Survey (DHIS2) provides a profound look into our progress and the work remaining. Nationally, 13% of women aged 15–49 have undergone FGM. However, the generational shift is staggering: while 37.5% of women aged 45–49 were subjected to the practice, that number drops to just 1% among the 15–19 age group. This decline reflects improved access to health services, education and evolving social norms. However, available data also indicate that a minority of the population continues to view FGM as acceptable or necessary. Recent service and perception data, including from the national health information system, suggest that around 10 % of people still believe FGM is something that should be practiced. While this represents a minority, its significance should not be underestimated. Social norms are shaped not only by numbers, but by perceived legitimacy, authority, and silence. This concern is reinforced by the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives, whose Rights’ Side of Life study highlighted a decline in support for gender equality and the emergence of conservative narratives that can normalize harmful practices, even as overall prevalence declines.One of the most significant risks facing the Maldives today is not a widespread resurgence of FGM, but its silent persistence. The practice can continue in private homes, during early infancy, and in communities with limited access to information, services, and oversight. When framed as a moral obligation, families may feel compelled to comply — even when they have doubts.At the same time, the lack of recent, comprehensive data limits the ability to detect shifts in practice or perception. When public discourse evolves more rapidly than evidence and policy, harmful norms can take root unnoticed.A renewed commitment through partnership and investmentIn response to these risks, UNFPA is spearheading a new initiative in Asia, including the Maldives. This program focuses on evidence generation, advocacy, and healthcare accountability to advance the universal realization of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) across the region. By investing in data, reinforcing institutional responses, supporting health systems, and engaging communities, the initiative seeks to close the gap between commitment and change. UNFPA is undertaking this work with the support of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). Australia is committed to ending sexual and gender-based violence in all its forms and works with partners in the Indo-Pacific to support their efforts to address, respond to and prevent this violence.Sustained investment for sustained progressBy strengthening alliances among grassroots activists, communities, governments, civil society organizations, and the private sector, we can build a powerful social movement that ends harmful norms which perpetuate FGM. Inaction has consequences. Without continued commitment, girls risk losing both protection and hope.Ending FGM in the Maldives requires breaking silos and integrating prevention across education, health, sexual and reproductive health and rights, and broader development efforts. It requires mobilizing domestic and international resources, engaging religious and community leaders, and empowering individuals across society to use their influence to protect the rights of girls.Every investment, every conversation, and every act of accountability brings us closer to a Maldives where every girl grows up safe, respected, and free to make decisions about her own body. On this International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation, the message is clear - progress must be protected and protection requires sustained commitment.  This article is first published at UNFPA Maldives website on Investing in the Abandonment of Female Genital Mutilation: Why Sustained Commitment Matters in the Maldives   To learn more about the works of UNFPA Maldives Please go to maldives.office@unfpa.org.(3) UNFPA Maldives (@UNFPAMaldives) / X UNFPA Maldives (@unfpamaldives) • Instagram photos and videos

Across the Republic of Maldives, a nation defined by its unique geography of 1,190 dispersed islands, the foundations of health security are being strengthened through science, leadership, and global solidarity. At a time when the world is being called to unite under the spirit of World Health Day 2026 and its theme, “Together for Health, Stand with Science,” the Republic of Maldives is demonstrating exactly what this looks like in practice, placing evidence, systems, and collaboration at the center of protecting lives.Rapid and accurate diagnostic services are the first line of defense against emerging health threats. In a geographically dispersed setting like Maldives, where distance can determine response time, strengthening laboratory systems is not just a technical priority but a national imperative. Through a strategic partnership with the Pandemic Fund, the country is investing in a future where every island community is supported by reliable, high-quality diagnostics that can detect risks early and guide timely interventions.This transformation began with a strong signal of national leadership. In December 2025, Maldives successfully completed Phase 1 of the initiative: Initial Gap Assessments and Workplan Development. Fully funded by the Pandemic Fund, this phase was led by Ms Thasleema Usman, Quality Commissioner of the Ministry of Health, under the direct oversight of national leadership. Rigorous field visits were conducted across the country to assess existing diagnostic capacities, infrastructure, and system gaps. This top-down commitment ensured that the resulting national laboratory roadmap is not only technically obust but also fully aligned with the country’s long-term vision for health security and resilience.Building on this foundation, the programme advanced into Phase 2 in early 2026, marking a critical step toward elevating laboratory standards nationwide. The focus has shifted to strengthening capacity across all 20 atolls, with the ambitious goal of achieving ISO 15189:2022 accreditation. This internationally recognized standard will ensure that diagnostic results produced within Maldives meet global benchmarks for quality, accuracy, and reliability; instilling confidence both nationally and internationally.A key milestone in this journey has been the successful completion of the Quality Management System (QMS) training component. Through a nationwide virtual programme, over 200 laboratory professionals were equipped with the knowledge and tools required to implement standardized procedures, strengthen documentation practices, and embed risk management into daily operations. This investment in people reflects a broader commitment to science-driven systems, where quality is not incidental but systematically built and sustained.The initiative is now transitioning into External Quality Assurance Systems (EQAS), a critical phase that provides independent validation of laboratory performance. Through EQAS, laboratories are assessed against international benchmarks, ensuring consistency and accuracy in diagnostic testing. This step is essential in the pathway toward accreditation and represents a shift from internal capacity building to externally validated excellence. This article is first published at WHO Maldives website on National Leadership and Global Investment: Transforming Laboratory Standards in the MaldivesTo learn more about the works of WHO Maldives Please visit WHO Maldives | World Health Organization

The National Agriculture Laboratory launched in Fuvahmulah, strengthening national agricultural systems and food security.UNDP MaldivesThe National Agriculture Laboratory was officially launched in Fuvahmulah on 29 January 2026, marking a significant step in strengthening the Maldives’ agricultural systems and national capacity for food security and climate resilience. The facility was established under the Project for Developing Sustainable Agricultural Economy (PDSAE), funded by the Government of Japan and implemented by UNDP Maldives in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Welfare (MoAAW).Designed as a national-level facility, the laboratory will support soil testing, plant pathology, entomology, and applied agricultural research. By providing reliable diagnostics and technical services, it strengthens evidence-based decision-making and improves how agricultural institutions support farmers across the country. The facility plays a key role in strengthening food safety standards and advancing climate-resilient farming practices nationwide.Speaking at the launch, Mr. Adnan Cheema, UNDP Resident Representative, emphasized that the laboratory represents an investment in national systems that serve farmers and institutions over the long term, reinforcing public service delivery in the agriculture sector.Addressing the significance of the facility, Her Excellency Mrs. Ishigami Rumiko, Ambassador of Japan to the Maldives, highlighted the challenges facing agriculture in the Maldives and the importance of strengthening national capacity.“Agriculture in the Maldives is shaped by unique geographical and environmental conditions, including limited land availability, fragile soils, salinity, and increasing climate-related stresses,” the Ambassador noted. “At the same time, agriculture remains essential for food security, livelihoods, and economic diversification, particularly in islands such as Fuvahmulah with a strong agricultural tradition.”Honourable Dr. Maryam Mariya, Minister of Agriculture and Animal Welfare, underscored the laboratory’s role in supporting the nationwide rollout of Maldives Good Agricultural Practices (M-GAP). She noted that the facility will provide critical technical backstopping for farmers across the atolls, strengthening agricultural quality assurance and improving access to reliable, science-based services.Developed under PDSAE Output 1, the National Agriculture Laboratory contributes to national priorities including food security, import substitution, climate resilience, and institutional strengthening. By embedding scientific capacity within public service delivery, the facility is expected to play a central role in supporting farmer livelihoods and sustainable agricultural development across the Maldives. This article is first published at UNDP Maldives website on National Agriculture Laboratory Officially Launched in FuvahmulahTo learn more about the works of UNDP Maldives Please visit | Maldives United Nations Development Programme