Health Minister Outlines Evidence-Based Strategy to Combat Tobacco Epidemic

The Maldivian government is leveraging technical studies and broad stakeholder consultations to establish sustainable tobacco control targets, Health, Family, and Welfare Minister Geela Ali announced. The strategy aims to ensure that all public health measures are rooted in evidence to produce tangible, long-term results in protecting society from tobacco addiction. Speaking at a stakeholder consultation for the “Dhen Huttaalaa” tobacco cessation campaign, Minister Geela emphasized that the current administration is prioritizing the fight against the tobacco epidemic more than any previous government. Central to this effort is the introduction of a generational tobacco ban and the provision of free cessation services across all islands to ensure accessibility for every citizen. The “Dhen Huttaalaa” campaign, launched on July 27, serves as the cornerstone of a five-year national initiative. While the overarching policy direction has been established, the government is currently developing a detailed implementation plan. This plan is being crafted through a collaborative process involving the Ministry of Health, education professionals, and technical experts from the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF. To broaden the reach of these efforts, the Ministry of Health, Family and Welfare is increasing the involvement of civil society. The government has opened opportunities for organizations to receive financial assistance to support tobacco cessation activities, with a commitment to formally recognize those contributing to these efforts at a national level. Minister Geela urged all relevant ministries, institutions, and associations to synchronize their efforts, noting that the sustainability of these health outcomes depends on a unified approach. By integrating administrative decisions with scientific evidence, the government seeks to create a comprehensive framework that reduces tobacco prevalence and improves overall public health across the archipelago.