WHO in collaboration with Health Protection Maldives held a three-day workshop focusing on enhancing the country's Points of Entry (PoE) capacity and Urban Preparedness capacity to bolster health emergency preparedness. This was a two-part workshop; focused on strengthening the Maldives' ability to detect, assess, report, and respond effectively to public health emergencies, in alignment with the International Health Regulations (IHR), and overall enhancing Emergency Preparedness and Response capacities in an urban setting. This marked the first in a series of workshops planned across the Maldives, with future sessions to be held in other cities; especially at ports beyond the Greater Malé region; to ensure a comprehensive and inclusive preparedness effort nationwide.
The Republic of Maldives has several critical Points of Entry that serve as gateways for international travel and trade. These include six international airports (Velana, Hanimaadhoo, Maafaru, Maamigili, Dhaalu, and Gan) and four major seaports (Malé Commercial Port, Uligan, Kulhudhuffushi, and Hithadhoo). Designated as official Points of Entry under IHR (2005), these sites are not only essential for connectivity but also form the frontline of defense against cross-border public health threats.
As an island nation with a tourism-driven economy, Maldives faces unique vulnerabilities in managing public health risks. The IHR framework offers guidance for building the country’s capacities to detect, assess, report, and respond to public health emergencies. Strengthening Points of Entry in line with the IHR and the findings of the 2024 Joint External Evaluation (JEE) is vital to safeguarding the health of both local communities and international visitors.
“In today’s highly interconnected world, the International Health Regulations are more vital than ever. As global health threats continue to emerge and evolve, strong IHR capacities enable countries to effectively detect, assess, report, and respond to public health emergencies; safeguarding both national and global health security,” said Ms Payden, WHO Representative to Maldives.
The safety of urban hubs like Malé depends heavily on strong safeguards at Points of Entry, where health threats can first be intercepted. By strengthening disease surveillance and emergency response capacities at Points of Entries; airports and seaports that serve as the entry points to Malé and other urban hubs; Maldives can reduce the risk of disease importation and onward transmission in crowded city/urban environments. Moreover, close coordination between Points of Entry officials and city administrations is essential for activating early warning systems, quarantine measures, and risk communication strategies in a timely manner.
Malé city, being the nation’s densely populated capital, presents unique challenges for emergency preparedness. The COVID-19 pandemic made it clear that in such urban settings, emergency preparedness and response cannot be effective without the full engagement of all partners, health, transport, city councils, security forces, tourism operators, and more.
This joint points of entry–urban preparedness approach is especially critical for Malé, where even a small outbreak can place immense pressure on the health system and disrupt daily life. The workshop reinforced this interdependency and emphasized the need to extend this integrated model to other key locations across the country. The link between urban health security and border preparedness was made clear: by enhancing preparedness at Points of Entry, we protect both the local population and the millions of tourists who visit the Maldives each year. Importantly, we also safeguard the many workers stationed at airports and seaports, whose roles are critical to the functioning of the nation’s economy.
The three-day workshop brought together a diverse mix of stakeholders from airports, seaports, health institutions, and city authorities. Guided by technical experts from WHO’s South-East Asia Regional Office and WHO Headquarters, participants collaboratively assessed current strengths and identified gaps
This workshop marked a crucial step toward strengthening the Maldives' health security framework. It reinforced that investment in Points of Entry (PoE) systems and robust urban preparedness isn't just about disease control; it's about preserving lives, livelihoods, and long-term economic stability across the nation.
The collaboration underscored the importance of collective efforts in building a resilient Maldives, ready to respond to future health emergencies with an integrated and robust approach. This holistic view recognizes that health extends beyond the confines of the healthcare sector, impacting everything from tourism and trade to education and social stability, making multi-sectoral engagement vital for true national resilience.