The second NeoCare Conference has opened with a strong focus on strengthening neonatal care through specialised facilities, modern medical technology and the development of a highly skilled healthcare workforce.
First Lady Sajidha Mohamed, who inaugurated the three-day conference, stressed that providing quality care to vulnerable newborns requires more than advanced equipment, emphasising that trained and experienced professionals are equally essential.
She said neonatal care in the Maldives has progressed significantly since services were first introduced, despite the challenges involved in developing the sector. According to the First Lady, the expertise and decisions of doctors, combined with the care and reassurance provided by nurses, play an important role in giving families confidence during an extremely difficult period.
She stressed that every newborn should have access to comprehensive healthcare and protection, regardless of where the child is born.
The First Lady said continued investment is needed in specialised neonatal facilities, modern equipment and medical technology. At the same time, she highlighted the importance of producing healthcare professionals with specialised knowledge and practical experience in neonatal care.
“Technology alone cannot save a life. A machine can monitor a heartbeat, but we need trained professionals who can understand what that heartbeat is telling us,” First Lady Sajidha said.
She emphasised that neonatal services require ongoing training, specialised education, clinical mentorship and opportunities for healthcare professionals to exchange knowledge and experiences.
Urging participants to make practical use of what they learn at the conference, she encouraged them to share new knowledge and approaches with colleagues working in neonatal care across the country.
Health, Family and Welfare Minister Dr Geela Ali also highlighted the importance of continuous professional development, noting that neonatal care extends beyond saving a newborn’s life and can have a lasting impact on the child’s health throughout their lifetime.
She said the geographical nature of the Maldives creates particular challenges in delivering specialised healthcare, making professional cooperation between hospitals especially important.
Minister Geela noted that neonatal services have not yet been fully established at all atoll and regional hospitals. However, she said doctors and experienced healthcare professionals at tertiary hospitals continue to work together to provide the guidance, information and support needed to strengthen neonatal services elsewhere in the country.
She added that such collaboration helps healthcare workers better understand how to respond when neonatal emergencies arise and supports the continued improvement of services.
“This is not an area where we can provide training once and leave it at that. It requires continuous training. Professional development, clinical mentorship and a thorough understanding of the different ways in which services can be delivered are major responsibilities,” Minister Geela said.
The Minister stressed that developing a stronger neonatal care system requires long-term planning, particularly in human resource development. She said healthcare professionals must remain proficient as treatment methods evolve and new equipment and technologies are introduced.
Minister Geela also pointed out that a healthcare professional’s responsibility does not end when a newborn is discharged from hospital. She said appropriate follow-up care, providing families with comprehensive information and advising parents on how to protect the child’s health are also essential components of neonatal care.
Speaking at the opening, Malé City Group of Hospitals Chief Executive Officer Ibrahim Abdul Razzaq Haleem said the safety of vulnerable newborns depends not only on the care provided inside neonatal intensive care units, but on the quality of healthcare delivered throughout the hospital.
He said NeoCare began last year as a conference focused on neonatal nurses, creating an opportunity for professionals to exchange experiences, strengthen professional practice and draw greater attention to the importance of newborn care.
According to Haleem, the initiative has expanded this year into a multidisciplinary platform bringing together healthcare professionals from different fields to discuss issues affecting neonatal services.
World Health Organization Representative to the Maldives Payden also addressed the ceremony and highlighted the Maldives’ progress in the health sector, particularly in maternal healthcare, noting achievements made at both regional and international levels.
This year’s NeoCare Conference brings together doctors and nurses working in neonatal intensive care units from 19 hospitals. Organised by Hulhumalé Hospital, the three-day event is intended to strengthen professional networks, share experience and support the further development of neonatal care services across the Maldives.
At the opening ceremony, First Lady Sajidha Mohamed also launched the first NeoCare and NICU News Bulletin, marking another initiative aimed at sharing information and developments related to neonatal and intensive care services.
