Category: News in Brief

Lightning strike victim brought to Male’

One of four people injured in lightning strikes in Haa Alif Dhidhoo has been brought to Male’ for further medical care.

Moosa Rasheed, 17, was admitted to Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) because his condition was deemed too serious, reports Haveeru.

According to Haveeru, he has been taken into the intensive care unit and has not regained consciousness.

Of the four that were struck by lightning, one is stable and recovering at Kulhudhufushi regional hospital, while the other two have been released.

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Imaadhudeen to introduce grade eight

Imaadhudeen school will introduce grade eight studies this year.

The academic year will begin on 10 January. Until 2009, the school only taught from grades one to seven.

According to Miadhu, the school has 243 students that will enroll in grade eight this year.

The only facility not available when classes begin would be the laboratory, which is scheduled to be completed in one month.

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Fire on MNDF launch

An MNDF vessel caught on fire on Thursday, injuring some of the officers on board.

The incident occurred on the morning of 31 December, at 8.45am, while launch number 58 was moored in the harbour behind Kalhuthukalaa Koshi.

Lance Corporal Abdhul Rahman, of the electric and mechanical engineers, who was working on the vessel sustained burns to his arm and leg.

MNDF reports that the fire was caused when the battery short circuited and ignited the petrol tank.

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Two men arrested for sexual assualt

Two men have been arrested in Gaaf Alif Vilingili, for sexual assualt of a  30-year-old woman.

According to police, the incident occurred on the night of 31 December 2009.

Police suspect that the two men had broken into her room through a window while she was asleep. They forced her down and attempted to assault her.

The two men arrested in connection with the case were aged 31 and 19.

The serious organised crime unit and Vilingili police are in charge of the case.

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Diesel prices increased by 50 laari

The State Trading Organisation (STO), the main supplier of petroleum and gas in the Maldives, has increased the price of a diesel litre by 55 laari to Rf8.20.

Shahid Ali, CEO of STO, told Miadhu that the increase was made in response to the rising price of oil in the world market.

He added STO tries to maintain a low retail price but there has been an increase of US$4 per barrel over the past two days.

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11 projects completed

The ministry of home affairs has revealed that 11 projects have been completed under the public sector investment programme (PSIP) while seven were underway, reports Miadhu.

The projects include an island office and a guesthouse for Haa Dhaal Nolhivaramfaru, atoll offices for Raa and Faafu atolls, an island office and fire station for Seenu Maradhoo and the fire station of Gnaviyani Fuahmulah.

The projects were part of the 2006 to 2008 PSIP, which included five island offices, two atoll offices, two guesthouses, five mosques and six regional fire stations. The total cost of the projects was estimated at Rf70 million (US$5.4 million).

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New ADK hospital building to open next year

The new eight-storey ADK Hospital building will be operational next year.

According to Miadhu, construction work on the building is already complete.

The new hospital would have 43 private rooms and provide many services which is expected to ease the pressure on the only two hospitals in Male’.

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New recruiting policy could lead to doctor shortage

The health ministry has asked Indhira Ghandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) to recruit doctors without offering them a migration allowance.

The migration allowance is a very important factor in attracting foreign doctors to the Maldives.

Miadhu reported that Dr. Mohamed Razi, senior medical officer at IGMH, said he was concerned that low salaries for doctors combined with the cancellation of the migration allowance would make it very difficult to employ doctors.

IGMH and other hospitals were struggling due to the shortage of doctors, he said.

Razi said he believed IGMH would be able to increase salaries and benefits to doctors once it was privatised.

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