There are more than 8,700 people on medication for chronic diseases in the southern atolls of the country, the State Trading Organization (STO) has said.
Speaking at the Viavathi Conference ongoing at Ihahdhoo School in L. Gan on Saturday, STO's Managing Director Hussain Amr said there are 8,722 people who are on long-term medication for chronic illnesses in Laamu, Gaafu Alifu, Gaafu Dhaalu, Gnaviyani, and Addu atoll.
Amr said the biggest difficulties faced in delivering medicines to the islands have now been resolved. The greatest difficulty in the past was the lack of clear figures on the number of people who need long-term medication in the islands, he said.
Amr said that previously, the quantity of medicines sent to islands was based on the population of the islands, with islands with higher populations receiving more medicine. However, as the number of people who needs medication from each island has now become clear, the policy that was being followed in sending medicine to islands has now been changed, he said.
Amr noted that among the southern islands, the highest number of people, based on population, who need long-term medication in one island is in Gaafu Alifu Gemanafushi.
Gemanafushi has the highest number of people with diabetes among the southern atolls. There are 106 people on the island who are on medication for cholesterol and 122 who are on medication for high blood pressure, he said.
