First Lady Sajidha Mohamed has urged society to move beyond reactive treatment and embrace a proactive approach to managing asthma, warning that delayed care continues to turn manageable conditions into medical emergencies.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the World Asthma Day 2026 Symposium, the First Lady set out the scale of the challenge facing the country. She pointed to the heavy burden of asthma in the Maldives, citing particularly high rates among children and a substantial volume of asthma-related hospital visits each year.
A Rising Respiratory Burden
Pollution, poor air quality, and shifting weather patterns are placing growing pressure on respiratory health, the First Lady said, echoing the World Health Organization’s identification of these factors as key drivers of the global rise in respiratory disease.
She added that related conditions such as atopy, allergies, and eczema are common in the Maldives and are believed to play a significant role in asthma prevalence. Environmental triggers, she noted, can both provoke and worsen these underlying conditions, compounding the risk for those already vulnerable.
Tackling Stigma Around Inhalers
Turning to this year’s World Asthma Day theme, ‘Access to anti-inflammatory inhalers for everyone with asthma – Still an urgent need,’ the First Lady called for an end to the stigma and misinformation that discourage patients from using inhalers.
Inhalers, she affirmed, are safe, effective, and not addictive. When used as prescribed, they improve asthma control, reduce the frequency of flare-ups, and meaningfully enhance quality of life.
Progress, and the Gaps that Remain
The First Lady acknowledged the steps already taken in the Maldives, pointing to the establishment of specialised services such as tobacco cessation clinics as evidence of a more holistic approach to patient care.
Yet significant gaps persist. Respiratory care remains underutilised across the islands, she said, and delays in seeking timely evaluation mean that healthcare workers are too often treating emergencies rather than helping patients manage their condition before it escalates.
Closing her address, the First Lady expressed hope that the symposium would translate discussion into meaningful action, strengthening the collective resolve to build a healthier and happier Maldives.
