Foreign Minister Dr. Iruthisham Adam has called for sustainable and pre-emptive financing to strengthen health systems in Small Island Developing States (SIDS), warning that future pandemics could threaten both lives and hard-won development gains.
Speaking at the United Nations High-Level Meeting on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response (PPPR), Minister Iruthisham highlighted the particular vulnerabilities faced by SIDS, citing the severe economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Maldives.
She noted that the pandemic wiped out more than one-third of the Maldives’ economic output in 2020, effectively erasing 15 years of development progress.
The Foreign Minister said SIDS need sustainable financing, resilient supply chains for vaccines, diagnostics and medicines, and continued investment in health workers, technology transfer, disease surveillance and laboratory networks.
She also reaffirmed the Maldives’ commitment to multilateral frameworks, including the WHO Pandemic Agreement and the International Health Regulations (2005).
Minister Iruthisham stressed that effective pandemic preparedness requires financing to be available before crises emerge, health systems to be interconnected, essential medical supplies to remain accessible, and communities to be equipped to respond.
She said strengthening preparedness is essential not only to protect lives but also to safeguard development gains and preserve countries’ ability to determine their own future.
The second High-Level Meeting on PPPR was convened pursuant to UN General Assembly Resolution 79/333 to review progress in implementing the 2023 Political Declaration on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response.
The meeting brings together global leaders to assess progress, address remaining gaps and renew political commitments towards building resilient health systems worldwide.
