As per the Global status report on road safety conducted in 2023, Maldives reported 12,070 four wheeled vehicles and 82140 powered two wheelers with 5 road crash deaths in 2021. However, with the growing number of motorized vehicles, in Male’ and across islands, the number of road traffic accidents and fatalities are increasing annually. To tackle this pressing public health issue, the Ministry of Health, Family and Welfare and the World Health Organization (WHO), convened a national workshop from 13–17 July 2026 to initiate the development of the Maldives' first National Strategy for Prevention of Unintentional Injury.
Bringing together representatives from government agencies, local councils, health services, law enforcement, and other stakeholders, the workshop identified road safety, drowning and maritime injuries, and falls as the country's priority areas for action. Participants also agreed on the strategic directions and key components of a unified national strategy to guide injury prevention efforts over the coming years.
The workshop emphasized the need for an integrated approach, recognizing that different forms of unintentional injuries share common risk factors and require coordinated, multisectoral action. The strategy will provide a single national framework to strengthen governance, improve coordination across sectors, optimize the use of resources, and reduce preventable deaths and disabilities.
The workshop also strengthened collaboration among key sectors and established the next steps for finalizing the strategy, including consolidating the workshop recommendations, preparing the draft strategy, and undertaking further stakeholder consultation.
“No single institution can prevent injuries on its own. The strength of this strategy lies in bringing all sectors together under one shared vision.” said Ms Payden, WHO Representative.
The Ministry of Health, Family and Welfare and the World Health Organization (WHO) will continue to work closely together to develop the National Strategy for Prevention of Unintentional Injury, building on the outcomes of the workshop.
Through continued technical collaboration and engagement with key stakeholders, the strategy will provide a coordinated roadmap to prevent injuries and save lives.