First Lady Sajidha Mohamed has called for greater investment in the training and professional development of healthcare professionals to strengthen neonatal care across the Maldives, stressing that advances in technology must be matched by investment in the people who use it.

The First Lady made the remarks while speaking at NeoCare 2026—The Maldives Conference on Neonatal Care Excellence, held at Meerumaa this morning.

She emphasised that while specialised neonatal facilities, modern equipment and emerging medical technologies are essential to improving neonatal care, skilled healthcare professionals remain at the heart of effective care. In this regard, she noted that a machine can monitor a heartbeat but it takes a trained healthcare professional to understand what that heartbeat is indicating. She added that while a modern neonatal unit can provide advanced equipment, its effective use depends on skilled hands, sound judgement and compassionate care.

The First Lady called for continuous training, specialised education, mentorship and professional development opportunities for healthcare professionals across the Maldives, highlighting the need to strengthen expertise alongside advances in medical technology.

She highlighted NeoCare’s role in supporting this effort, noting that this year’s conference brought together 50 participants from 19 healthcare facilities across the Maldives. She described the conference as a valuable platform for sharing knowledge and experience, emphasising the importance of extending such opportunities from Malé to the atolls and across generations of healthcare professionals.

The First Lady also underscored the importance of locally relevant data and research in guiding decision-making and strengthening neonatal care in the Maldives.

She stressed that every newborn in the Maldives, regardless of their island or circumstances, deserves the same standard of care. She commended the expertise, precision and compassion of doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals who support families through some of the most challenging moments of their lives.

The First Lady further highlighted the importance of family-centred care, noting that behind every newborn receiving intensive or specialised care is a family in need of understanding, clear communication, dignity and compassion. She stressed that healthcare should ultimately be about caring for people, not simply treating patients.

NeoCare 2026 is being held under the theme “Advancing Neonatal Care: From Knowledge to Practice through Innovation and Collaboration”.