Maldivian Foreign Minister Iruthisham Adam has called for robust global systems and sustainable financial assistance to protect Small Island Developing States (SIDS) against future health emergencies. Speaking during a high-level meeting on pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response held on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, the Minister stressed that multilateral mechanisms must prioritise the unique vulnerabilities of developing island economies.
Highlighting the severe toll of COVID-19, Minister Iruthisham stated that the 2020 health crisis wiped out one-third of the Maldives’ economic output and reversed nearly 15 years of hard-earned national development. She underscored that small island nations urgently require resilient frameworks guaranteeing uninterrupted access to sustainable finance, essential medical supplies, diagnostic tools, and vaccines to withstand future global shocks.
Addressing the critical need for long-term health infrastructure, the Minister noted that international cooperation must focus on developing human resources, accelerating technological transfers, and investing in advanced laboratory surveillance networks. She also emphasised the significance of universal compliance with the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Pandemic Agreement and the International Health Regulations (2005) to ensure global readiness.
"Securing financial resources, ensuring interconnected systems, guaranteeing equitable access to essential medical supplies, and maintaining full community preparedness are indispensable to saving human lives in the face of future pandemics," the Minister stated during her address.
Discussions at the high-level UN assembly centered on evaluating global progress in public health response, addressing systemic inequities, and building resilient health infrastructures capable of mounting swift, cohesive responses to emerging cross-border health threats.