Maldives

Type:

Book Chapter

Author:

Shanooha Mansoor; Ahmed Rasheed

Published:

2019

Publisher:

Oxford University Press

Maldives is a developing, geographically dispersed small-island nation with a population of 344,023. With an annual population growth rate of 1.65%, Maldives is nearing the end of its demographic transition. Though universal healthcare is enshrined in law in Maldives, the healthcare sector is underdeveloped and there is a lack of awareness of mental illnesses, especially those related to old age such as dementia. There is also a lack of resources and necessary expertise to address the urgent problem of mental healthcare provision. The recently launched national Mental Health Policy (2015–2025) and Health Master Plan 2016–2025 acknowledge mental health conditions, including dementia and cognitive impairment, as those requiring long-term care—which is a step in the right direction. The government needs to demonstrate a more formal commitment to dementia care by developing a National Dementia Strategy to be incorporated into the Mental Health Policy or Health Master Plan, in order to achieve tangible progress in their efforts to address the challenges faced by Maldives in dementia care.

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