Social Services in the Maldives

Rob: You are watching UNICEF television.

Out and about in this Atoll community, Ahmed Hussain is part of a
social service transformation that is helping families and even the
remotest part of the Maldives.

Ahmed: Before, we would only hear about cases of neglect or abused
indirectly from others. But now, we hear from the families and
even the victims themselves.

Rob: For the first times, social services are being delivered throughout
the Atolls, thanks to family and child service centers. UNICEF
support helped to train the country’s first social service workers
who provide this invaluable service through these centers.

Ismail: In the Atolls, this is something quite new. Before the tsunami, we
knew there was a service but it only existed in the capital Mali and
we had no idea how to access it.

Hawwa: People are more open about these issues now and then they tend to
report on these cases.

Rob: While UNICEF is helping to create a protective environment for
the children of the Maldives, the organization is also working to
create a cleaner and therefore, healthier place to live.

This new state of the art sanitation system installed in Ungoofaaru
Island is an example of this effort. For householders like Hassan
Zakkariya, it means a big improvement.

Hassan: We used to get a large of our sewage on the beach and it may also
stop contamination of our drinking water.

Rob: Discreetly hidden from view, but close to the shoreline that it is
helping to restore to pristine beauty, the new plant is further
example of the big changes that are taking place since the tsunami.

For UNICEF television, this is Rob McBride in the Maldives.
Unite for children.