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The second Neonatal Care Conference has brought together 50 healthcare professionals from 19 facilities to strengthen specialised newborn care across the Maldives.
Mariyam Adheela
First Lady Sajidha Mohamed speaks at the second Neonatal Care Conference -- Photo: President’s Office
Hulhumale’: The second Neonatal Care Conference, NeoCare 2026, began this morning, bringing healthcare professionals together to discuss ways to improve care for newborns requiring specialised treatment.
The conference was opened by First Lady Sajidha Mohamed, who highlighted the importance of skilled healthcare professionals alongside modern equipment and technology in neonatal care.
She said advanced machines can monitor a newborn’s heartbeat, but trained healthcare professionals are needed to understand what those readings mean and provide appropriate care.
The First Lady called for continuous training, specialised education, mentorship and professional development opportunities for healthcare workers across the Maldives.
She said NeoCare provides an important platform for sharing knowledge and experience, while stressing the need to extend such opportunities beyond Male’ to healthcare professionals in the atolls.
This year’s conference has brought together 50 participants from 19 healthcare facilities. The First Lady also highlighted the importance of locally relevant data and research in guiding decisions and improving neonatal care.
She stressed that every newborn in the Maldives deserves the same standard of care regardless of their island or circumstances. She also praised doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers for supporting families during difficult periods.
The First Lady further highlighted the importance of family-centred care, saying families of newborns receiving intensive or specialised treatment need clear communication, understanding, dignity and compassion.
She said healthcare should ultimately focus on caring for people, rather than simply treating patients.
The first Neonatal Care Conference was held last year. This year’s conference is being held over three days and includes doctors and nurses working in NICUs across the country.
