Article 6‐ Right to Life Right to Survival 21. Maldives has made substantial progress in achieving many of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), such as improving maternal health, and reducing child mortality. Despite the outstanding developments, a Desk Review on Health Sector of Maldives5 conducted by HRCM in 2009 has made apparent that there are serious challenges in the provision of adequate health care facilities to the people. Amongst these challenges are the issues of lack of basic health care facilities in some outer islands, limited access to specialist health care even in islands where island and regional hospitals are established, regional hospitals not having adequate equipment, lack of systematic development of health personnel across the nation and lack of legislative protections. In addition, the review also highlights the inefficiency and ineffectiveness of the current health services. 22. The data published in 2009 by World Health Organisation (WHO), shows that in Maldives, there is prevalence of malnutrition among children below the age of five years. It was recorded that 17.8 percent of children were underweight, 20.3 percent were stunted, 10.2 percent were wasted and 6.5 percent were overweight6 . 24. In the year 2011, the Maldives Health Statistics by Ministry of Health and Family revealed that “one of the targets of the Millennium Development Goals is to reduce the Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) by three quarters between 1990 and 2015”. The Baseline MMR data recorded in 1990 was 500 per 100,000 live births. As such it is targeted to reduce the maternal mortality ratio to 125 per 100,000 live births by year 20158. It was further noted that, “ given the small population a single maternal death can have a large effect on the MMR of the country, now is the time to be cautious and push special measures in place to Chapter: Article 6‐ Right to Life 23. The Health Master Plan (2006‐2015) by Ministry of Health recorded that remerging communicable diseases pose immense threat to the people and burden on the health system. The Annual Communicable Disease Report noted that a total of 2909 dengue cases were reported which were the highest, compared to previous years and deaths reported were also higher in 2011 with a total of 12 across the nation7. This report further noted that diseases like malaria, filaria and leprosy are targeted for elimination. The Maldives Demographic Health Survey (MDHS) published in 2010 by Ministry of Health and Family, noted although the prevalence of HIV/AIDS is low, certain risk behaviours such as sex work and intravenous drug use, which are seen to be increasing, pose increased risk of contracting HIV in these at‐risk populations. 13