First Lady Sajidha Mohamed has said that good health forms the foundation on which education flourishes, communities prosper and economies thrive, as she delivered the inaugural address at the Third International Joint Conference for Healthcare Professionals 2026 (IJCHP 2026) on Tuesday morning.
The conference, running from July 7 to 9 at Crossroads Maldives, is being held under the theme “Evidence, Empowerment and Education: Leading the Future of Healthcare for Sustainable Impact.”
Speaking to delegates, healthcare professionals, researchers, educators and international guests at the opening ceremony, the First Lady welcomed participants from around the world, saying their presence reflected a shared commitment to advancing healthcare through knowledge, collaboration and innovation.
Health as the Measure of a Nation
The First Lady said healthcare is, at its heart, about people, noting that behind every scientific breakthrough is a patient whose life has been changed. She said nations cannot fully realise their potential without healthy citizens, adding that while a country’s strength is often measured by the size of its economy or the sophistication of its technology, the true measure of a nation lies in how well it cares for its people.
Technology Must Serve, Not Replace, Compassion
Reflecting on what she described as a transformative era in healthcare, the First Lady pointed to the growing role of artificial intelligence, digital technologies, genomics, robotics and predictive analytics in reshaping the sector. She cautioned, however, that technology can enhance healthcare but cannot replace compassion, saying no algorithm can replace kindness and no machine can comfort an anxious parent. Technology, she said, must always serve people, not the other way around.
Building Resilient Healthcare for Island Nations
The First Lady also spoke of the importance of resilient healthcare systems for small island developing states such as the Maldives, identifying climate change, emerging diseases, demographic shifts and geographic dispersion as challenges that demand innovative, evidence-based approaches. She reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening healthcare through continued investment in its workforce, modern infrastructure, digital transformation, specialised services and international partnerships.
Tribute to Nurses and Women in Healthcare Leadership
Paying tribute to nurses, the First Lady described them as a constant presence throughout a patient’s journey, often the first to notice subtle changes and the last to leave. She expressed her deepest appreciation to nurses serving in the Maldives and around the world for their dedication and compassion.
She also recognised the women participating in the conference, saying that when women lead, health systems become stronger, more inclusive and more responsive to community needs. Supporting women in healthcare leadership, she added, is integral to improving healthcare itself.
Concluding her address, the First Lady expressed hope that the conference would renew participants’ sense of purpose, strengthen partnerships and inspire bold ideas, before officially declaring IJCHP 2026 open.
During the ceremony, conference co-chair and Associate Professor Fathimath Shifaza presented a commemorative memento to the First Lady on behalf of the organisers.
