Former Foreign Minister and daughter of the former President, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, has said that the precautionary measures being taken by the Maldivian government amid the COVID-19 pandemic have been better than those being taken by more developed country.

Dunya made the statement in a phone interview with One Online following her Tweet yesterday.

The former Foreign Minister said that she has been closely monitoring the measures taken globally and its results and she has been giving a special attention to the measures taken by the Maldivian government to protect Maldivians in the country and abroad.

She said that she has been monitoring since day one, the initial outbreak in China and it is clear that the results would be devastating if any country neglects in the issue.

“It is the governments’ responsibility to take every possible step to protect their people. And so, I would say more than the bigger (developed) countries, the Maldivian government’s measures are structured and better. And for that, deserves praise.” Dunya said.

The former Foreigner Minister currently in Sri Lanka, said that no government should be negligent during the current pandemic and it is suspected that China, where the illness originated, tried to suppress regarding the outbreak. However, the measures taken by China after the outbreak are notable.

Dunya said that European countries such as Italy and other big countries in the world are facing dire consequences because their governments failed to act with preventive measures. In such countries, Dunya said, that the death toll along with the number of people infected, keep rising. And some of these countries have also failed to inform their people with enough information. In this situation, it is a further challenge when people are not informed on what they should do.

The former Foreign Minister also praised the Maldivian government on their public awareness campaign regarding the pandemic.

She said that the people with suspected symptoms of the illness are also having a difficult time in their 14-day quarantines when they are away from their family and friends. And while the conditions at quarantine at different countries are being discussed, in the whole world, the Maldives is “lucky” to be the most efficient in this process right now with the right resources.