State Trading Organization (STO), in collaboration with GE Healthcare, has awarded certificates to the first batch of students who completed the radiography training program aimed at strengthening the local healthcare workforce.

A total of 25 students enrolled in the program conducted by the STO Training Institute, with 23 successfully graduating. 

The graduation ceremony was held at Villa College last night, with Minister of Health Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim attending as the chief guest.

STO highlighted the significance of this achievement, noting that two graduates have already secured positions in hospitals located in the atolls, while others are in the process of job placement. 

The addition of 23 trained Maldivian radiographers is seen as a major milestone in the effort to localize the healthcare workforce.

Despite this success, STO emphasized the ongoing need for more trained professionals in the radiography field. 

The initiative is a response to a 2018 GE Healthcare survey that revealed a high dependency on expatriates in the Maldives’ radiography sector and a generally low number of locally trained healthcare workers.

The program was launched with the objective of building local expertise in radiography and enhancing the accessibility of imaging services to Maldivian patients. 

STO expressed pride in contributing to a project with meaningful social impact and pledged to continue supporting similar initiatives in the future.

The STO Training Institute was established in 2019 to offer radiography education, and later that year, the curriculum received approval from the Maldives Qualification Authority. 

Following the permission to conduct the course, the company's management has decided to cover all the expenses of the first batch of students under STO's full scholarship. 

In addition, an allowance of RMVR 2,300 per month was given to each student during the period of study. 

The course was officially announced and opened for admission in July 2022.