Author: Minivan News

IGMH dialysis unit to be expanded

In an attempt to broaden services at the dialysis unit in capital city Malé’s state owned Indhira Gandhi Memorial Hospital, the management has decided to expand the unit to twice its current size.

IGMH Deputy CEO Mohamed Habeeb told local media that after expansion, the unit will be able to attend to 20 patients at a time.

“As there is such a high demand for dialysis services, we are having to provide these services around the clock. Some patients have to spend about five hours in dialysis,” said Habeeb.

“Currently we have 11 beds in the Dialysis Unit, which will be increased to 20 after the expansion,” he said.

He further revealed that MVR2 million (US$130,000) is estimated to be spent on the project.

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Islamic Minister states MVR 35 million deposited in the Hajj Corporation to date

Minister of Islamic Affairs Sheikh Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed has stated that to date, MVR35 million has been deposited in the accounts of the Maldives Hajj Corporation.

Speaking at the launching of PPM Parliamentary Candidate Ahmed Nihan’s campaign, Minister Shaheem stated that the “large amount of money deposited in the corporation in such a short period of time shows the level of trust that the citizens have in the corporation”.

The minister further revealed that both the previous and the incumbent administrations have provided financial aid to the corporation, detailing that the Yameen administration has so far provided MVR5 million.

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Road construction work commences in Gaaf Alif Atoll Villin’gili

The government has begun work on road construction in the island of Villin’gili in Gaaf Alif Atoll on Tuesday.

The project is handled by Maldives Road Development Corporation (MRDC) and was inaugurated by Villin’gili’s former Council President Saudh Hussain and MRDC Chairperson.

The MRDC stated that 50 kilometers of road will be constructed on the island, making up a total of 15 roads.

The government has further contracted the MRDC to build roads on seven other islands.

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Majlis sittings to resume after March 22 elections

Sittings of the first session of the People’s Majlis for 2014 will resume after the parliamentary elections scheduled for March 22, Speaker Abdulla Shahid said today.

Concluding today’s sitting held to approve a nominee to the Elections Commission, Shahid said the decision was made after consulting political parties.

The first session of 2014 started on March 3 with the delivery of the presidential address, after which the speaker announced that normal sittings would resume after this month’s parliamentary polls.

The 17th parliament began its first session on May 28, 2009.

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CMDA states that government will cooperate to appoint more females to boards of directors

The Capital Market Development Authority (CMDA) has had confirmation it will receive complete government support in its initiative to appoint more females to the boards of directors of various companies.

The CMDA stated that in meetings with its CEO President Abdulla Yameen has agreed to support the authority’s initiative to introduce changes to the Corporate Governance Code, making it obligatory that 30 percent of all company boards registered with the authority by 2016 must be female.

The development authority further stated that 24 percent of participants in the director training and corporate governance awareness programmes held to date are female. Thereby, the authority is confident that there are a high number of qualified and capable female professionals in the country.

The authority further revealed that it has plans to conduct training to increase female participation in company boards.

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Fenaka Corporation contracted to establish sewerage system in Maamendhoo

The government has contracted state utilities company Fenaka Corporation to establish a sewerage system in the island of Maamendhoo in Laamu Atoll.

In an event held in the Environment Ministry on Tuesday, the government contracted the Corporation to construct the sewerage system in a period of 18 months with a budget of MVR31 million.

The agreement was signed by Minister of Environment Thoriq Ibrahim and Fenaka Corporation Managing Director Mohamed Nimal.

Speaking to press after the event, Thoriq stated that the development of an island depended on the maintaining of peace and unity in the island, and that the government will keep this in mind when initiating such projects.

He also called on local councils in the islands to cooperate with development projects initiated by the government.

Feneka Corporation Managing Director Mohamed Nimal stated that physical work on the project will begin in the next 14 days and that the project is expected to be completed within the estimated timeframe.

On March 3, the government also contracted the Feneka Corporation to establish sewerage systems in the islands of Burunee and Madifushi in Thaa Atoll.

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Police arrest five for drug possession

Police arrested five young people yesterday (Monday 10) for possession of illicit narcotics.

The Maldives Police Service reported that they were a “22 year old, a 21 year old, an 18 year old and two 17 year olds, all locals”.

The Police Life website stated that they were taken in at 3:36pm on March 10 based on information which stated that these individuals were “involved in the trafficking and trade of illicit narcotics within the country”.

A search of their house revealed 80 cellophane packets of suspicious substances. The Drug Enforcement Department is investigating the matter further.

Police have made conducted a number of raids in recent weeks, with Home Minister Umar Naseer having vowed that the main target of his ministry for the next five years would be curbing drug-related crimes.

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Fiqh Academy advises against importing kosher meals

The Fiqh Academy of Maldives has issued a fatwa (legal opinion) stating that the importation and sale of kosher meals – foods that conform to Jewish dietary laws – is not advisable under Islamic Shariah.

Following its research of kosher foods, the academy however found that neither its ingredients nor production process involved elements forbidden by Shariah.

While consuming kosher meals was therefore not forbidden for Muslims, the fatwa stated that it was not advisable to introduce a Jewish product to an Islamic nation such as the Maldives.

The fatwa was signed by the academy’s President Sheikh Mohamed Rasheed Ibrahim – former chief justice and head of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs under President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom – and ten other members of the academy.

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Bandidhoo harbour construction resumes after five years

The Bandidhoo harbour project officially recommenced yesterday (March 10) after a five year pause in construction.

Minister of Housing and Infrastructure Dr Mohamed Muizzu and Meedhoo MP Ahmed Siyam Mohamed were at the ceremony to inaugurate the project, Sun Online reported.

The project was initially started by President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom’s government in 2008, and stopped during that year’s change in government.

Sun Online reported that Housing Minister Dr Muizzu said the present government would fulfil its pledges and produce results, as it has proved over the past few months.

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