First Lady Madam Sajidha Mohamed has returned to Malé following her participation as Guest of Honour at the 7th Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative Summit in Dubai on June 18–19. She delivered a keynote address at the inaugural session and spoke at the Committee Meeting, reaffirming the Maldives’ commitment to advancing healthcare, education, and women’s rights.
During her keynote, Madam Sajidha lauded the Merck Foundation on its 8th anniversary and 13 years of social development contributions, and thanked the organisation for awarding “More Than a Mother” ambassador status to her, as well as for facilitating fertility and embryology scholarships for Maldivian doctors—a critical need in light of specialist shortages at home.
She underscored the urgent necessity for technical partnerships to strengthen public health infrastructure, with a focus on fertility, embryology, cancer screening, mental health, and women’s leadership in healthcare. She also outlined domestic initiatives tackling infertility stigma, gender‑based violence, diabetes, hypertension and more, all aligned with the nation’s Gender Equality Action Plan to boost entrepreneurship, justice access, and prevention of violence against women.
At the Committee Meeting, Sajidha brought attention to emerging social concerns, including cyberbullying among children, juvenile justice reform emphasizing rehabilitation, and national food security strategies—particularly hydroponics—to reduce dependency on imports.
The summit gathered 14 First Ladies from Africa and Asia to discuss shared challenges—combating infertility stigma, expanding girls’ education, empowering women, and addressing healthcare gaps. The event was inaugurated by Merck Foundation leadership and featured panels on oncology, fertility, and media’s role in health awareness.
Madam Sajidha’s participation reinforces the Maldives’ regional diplomatic presence while spotlighting transformative domestic initiatives in healthcare, gender equality, and social justice.
