A new healthcare waste management facility has been inaugurated in Kaafu Dhiffushi, marking a major stride toward improving safe and environmentally responsible waste-handling practices across the Maldives’ health sector.
The facility was developed as part of a USD 4.4 million nationwide project funded by the Government of Japan and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) from 2022 to 2025. The programme focuses on modernising how medical waste is collected, processed, and disposed of to uphold public health standards and protect the environment.
With the launch of the Dhiffushi installation, the total number of healthcare waste management facilities established under the programme now stands at 21 nationwide.
Project partners also highlighted several complementary improvements delivered under the initiative. Health centres in Thuraakunu and Thakandhoo have been equipped with new autoclave systems, and 65 electric tricycles have been distributed to support clean-energy waste collection and transport.
Capacity-building remains a core component of the efforts. To date, 656 healthcare professionals — 90% of them women — have received certified training in safe waste-handling procedures through a collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO).
In addition to infrastructure and training support, the project has strengthened digital systems across healthcare facilities by providing 270 computers and 40 network switches, ensuring better record management and operational efficiency. New laboratory and sterilisation equipment — including autoclaves and other essential devices — has also been procured to reinforce long-term sustainability.
Officials say the initiative represents a significant investment in building a safer, greener, and more resilient healthcare system, aligned with global environmental health standards.
