Ministry of Health has revealed that they are currently working to facilitate testing for monkeypox at Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH).

Commissioner of Quality Assurance at the Health Ministry, Thasleema Usman spoke to ONE Online and noted that testing for communicable diseases needed to be carried out at an ideal laboratory for it, hence it has been decided to facilitate testing for Monkeypox at the laboratory in IGMH.

Thasleema further noted that In additional to acquiring test kits, other supplies and things are needed to set up testing. Once the set up is done, testing will be available at IGMH.

The expanding monkeypox outbreak in more than 70 countries across the globe prompted the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare the disease a global emergency on July 23.

Upon being questioned regarding an exact date as to when testing could begin, Thasleema noted that upon the completion of the setup, testing dates will be announced to the public.

World Health Organization (WHO) donated 250 monkeypox PCR test kits to the Maldives on July 31.