Progress

SHE was founded in 1988 with the intention and the need for a non-governmental organization that could help to improve the lives of families by enhancing people's capacity to comprehend prevailing health and social problems in the dispersed communities of the Maldives, focusing the following thematic areas.

• Health Education.
• Counseling needs.
• Family planning.

 

With a modest beginning the Society has managed to build-up an institution that is capable of providing a wide range of services using local expertise. By the time of its 15th anniversary in 2003, the management of the organization has expanded by many folds. It comprises more than 50 staff from different professions, “counseling, laboratory technology, health care, accounting and social sciences”. One of the main outcomes of the Society's initial contact with community is the recognition of thalassaemia as a major health issue and as critical developmental concern. Further assessments confirmed the carrier prevalence level of 18.1 for this genetic blood disorder and this high prevalence led to the launching of a comprehensive awareness programme, on this problem. This initiative contributed to the popular acceptance of the issue as a national concern, and "Thalassaemia" has become a household word throughout the country, since mid 1998.

Human resource capacity of the management is being complemented by a pool of Members (Volunteers) comprising medical doctors and specialists, paramedics, nurses, teachers, Counselors and community educators.
 
In-house services are provided at the Society's own premises that serve more than 50 clients per day. The Society also takes initiative in introducing participatory development models to address community issues. Under this strategy three island level Health Centers and one Atoll level Community Center had been constructed by the Society, and handed over to the communities for their own management.