Minister of Health Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim has said that the government is executing developmental projects in a wise and appropriate manner, even while paying debt.
Minister said this last night while addressing a party rally of the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC).
Minister Nazim said that when President Dr Mohamed Muizz took office the country had a debt of 120 billion Rufiyaa, and was at risk of default. But he said President Muizz immediately launched efforts to recover from the situation and regain a position from where infrastructure development projects are possible, while continuing to pay debt.
Minister Nazim said President Muizz is fully aware that real development of the country is not infrastructure development alone, but required a number of other major changes as well.
Taking one example he said the biggest challenge facing the country’s healthcare system was not the lack of infrastructure, equipment or healthcare professionals, but the health issues emerging from the often-unhealthy lifestyle of the people themselves.
Hence he said while realizing that health care system cannot be developed without addressing the underlying causes, President Muizz acted quickly to take direct measures, and began drawing up policies and regulations for such a framework.
He said that it would be baseless if we try to take the country forward without solving issues like tobacco control, drug control, preventing gang violence, the problem of undocumented expatriate workers. Minister Nazim said unless these major issues are addressed, we cannot get the result we want in nation-building.
Minister Nazim also insisted that in its neutral foreign policy, the Maldivian government would not rely on one single country, and stated that President Muizz has been advocating in the most appropriate manner at international platforms, demonstrating our strong policies, while maintaining its neutral stance. He also pointed out that President Muizz has also been expressing unwavering support to the Palestinian problem, an issue very close to the heart of the Maldivian people.
