The Government gives high priority to improve the quality of life of the people through expansion of reproductive health and family planning services by qualified health personnel who take care to address the special needs of men and women and ensure the confidentiality of care.

With financial input from UNFPA and technical Expertise from CIET international, HIRU of Ministry of Health conducted a Reproductive Health baseline survey throughout the country. This revealed an extremely high level of awareness in the country on many aspects. The survey also revealed that contraceptive prevalence has improved high significantly in the recent years. Contraceptive method mix has increased to four at atoll level, five at regional level and six at central level with the introduction on Norplant at the end of 2000.

Attempts are being made to improve the information education and communication, to popularize family planning and improve acceptor rate, by motivating men.

A guideline on reproductive health has been developed and is being utilized by medical doctors, nurse and midwives. Training on RH/FP guideline at central level has been started and is ongoing.

Services for the protection and promotion of maternal and child health will be provided within easy access to all groups of people with special efforts to reach the under privileged.

Promotion of safe delivery is assured through construction of health posts in the selected islands. At present 32 health post are constructed and they are functioning accordingly. Some more health posts are under construction. This has facilitated and improved the care given to pregnant women during prenatal, peri-natal and postnatal period including family planning and counseling services.

DPH published a Dhivehi edition of WHO midwifery guidelines and distributed to all the midwives. This was aimed at standardizing the management of pregnancy and, enhancing quality of care particularly at the periphery.

A key focus of the safe motherhood program will be creating awareness on aspects such as the risks associated with too early, too late, too close, and too many pregnancies, and importance of seeking antenatal and postnatal care.

All pregnant mothers are encouraged to have a minimum of three antenatal check-ups, receive postnatal care, and to have deliveries attended by trained health personnel.