Ambulances services have been expanded to all islands across Maldives.
In a ceremony held Saturday under the government's efforts to establish a National Ambulance Service, ambulances were handed over to 25 islands where its services were not available.
Out of the ambulances handed over, 21 were donated to the Maldives by the government of Japan as a grant. They were handed over by Japanese Ambassador to Maldives Keiko Yanai, and accepted by Health Minister Abdulla Ameen on behalf of the Maldives government.
Speaking at the ceremony, Health Minister Ameen said with the new ambulances arranged for 25 islands, ambulance services will now be available in all islands of the archipelago.
Ameen said the government aims to establish National Ambulance Services to provide a reliable and efficient service via land, sea and air.
"National ambulance service will facilitate efficient and quality first aid services during health emergencies and other disasters while patients are transported to the nearest health facility", said minister Ameen.
The island council members of the 25 islands and the parliament members of their constituencies attended the ceremony to receive the ambulances.
