MRC Secretary General Joins Panel on Ageing with Dignity at the Health and Family Expo 2026

Drawing on MRC’s healthy ageing work, SG Shabin spoke about the need to notice social withdrawal early, not just physical decline. He highlighted older persons should be given roles that use what they know, rather than activities that only fill their time. He pointed out that practical barriers such as transport, seating, lighting and hearing often stop older persons from taking part, and that young and old should be brought together on purpose. He also reflected that support should be easy to reach without a label, and that Psychological First Aid and community-based psychosocial support offer that route. Asking older persons for their views on decisions, he noted, does more for their standing than simply caring for them.

Healthy ageing is an important area of MRC’s work, and sits under Strategic Priority 4 of the MRC Strategic Plan 2019-2030: Promoting Health and Wellbeing in a Changing Climate. Since 2023, with the support of the Ali Fulhu Thuthu Foundation, MRC has expanded this work to reach older persons in more communities, with the aim of improving their quality of life, helping them stay independent, and keeping them connected to the people around them.

Across the islands, this work takes shape in different ways, depending on what each community needs. Volunteers visit older persons living alone, sit with them and check on their wellbeing. Programmes bring senior citizens together with younger generations, and community events, including one for older persons aged 80 and above, celebrate their place in the community. These activities are carried out by MRC Units in Kulhudhuffushi City, Hdh. Nellaidhoo, Addu City, Malé City and Velidhoo, where volunteers know the people and places around them. Alongside this, the Patient Transport Service helps older persons in the Greater Malé Area reach their hospital appointments. Together, this work has reached 1,450 older persons across seven islands, held eight community-led healthy ageing events, and supported over 250 patient transport trips, with local councils, health facilities and community partners at its side. The Foundation’s support continues under the CARE Programme (2026-2028), which builds on this work.

Events like the Health and Family Expo 2026, bring organisations, institutions and communities together to share experience and shape the national conversation on health and wellbeing. MRC thanks the Ministry of Health, Family and Welfare for the invitation, and will continue to grow its community-based healthy ageing programmes so that older persons remain valued, included and visible in community life.