Fuvahmulah, an Island of Wellness
Energise and Excel group photo. Image source: Fuvahmulah City Council 27 Feb 2024.
Fuvahmulah boys in “mashi”. Photo credit to the owner.
Fuvahmulah is blessed with an environment of Wellness. The island is well laid out with green open spaces and surrounded by an amazing ring road, Naib Thuthu Hingun. The ring road follows the beach line. Walking is a proven wellness activity according to neuroscience.
Wellness is an inbuilt feature of this “Wonderfully Unique” island. Two wetland areas were declared UNESCO protected biosphere nature reserve in 2022. Dhadimagi Kilhi and Banddara Kilhi are two fresh water lakes surrounded by vast wetland area. The wetlands have secret. Mud Baths!
Diving is one of the prime attractions for tourists. The surrounding sea offers a wonderfully unique adventure diving experience. The island is branded as the Tiger Shark Island! .
Fuvahmulah City Council
Fuvahmulah was declared a city in 2016. The city is administered by a council of seven councillors with Mayor Ismail Rafeeq presently heading the council. The island city is home to a resident population of 9,000. Tourists flock to explore its wonderfully unique waters and the wetlands. Guest house services are excellent.
Meeting with the Mayor of Fuvahmulah, Mr. Ismail Rafeeq (4 Mar 2024)
The Mayor expressed interest in the WHO STEP Survey and what it reveals about the state of physical health and wellness of his city’s population. He was also interested in expanding the mandate of the council’s sports development officer (aka sports councillor)
Energise & Excel
The Fuvahmulah City Council recently commissioned the Male’Fitness Academy to conduct a professional development activity on physical fitness and its health benefits for their staff, under the slogan “Energise & Excel”. (Thu 29 Feb 2024)
The session focused on the optimal exercise intensity to burn fat and maintain good health, especially cardiovascular health. A preliminary assessment of 24 city council staff revealed that 58% registered a BMI of over 25. This is above the national average of 52% (see below). A BMI of 25 and over is generally considered overweight.
Finding out resting heart rate.
WHO STEP Survey, Maldives 2020-2021. Figure 25 overweight (p.93)
These preliminary estimates indicate Fuvahmulah population may not fare much better than their Maale City counterparts.
The WHO STEP Survey of the Maldives is alarming! Over 52% of the population are overweight (BMI>25) In 2022 the Ministry of Health declared that 84% mortality is associated with noncommunicable disease. This is well over the global average of 74%.
Fuvahmulah city has plans to improve physical activity levels of their population. A benchmark for Fuvahmulah will be to maintain mortality below the national average!
Domestic Wellness Tourism
Fuvahmulah attract domestic tourist from nearby Huvadhoo Atoll. Families travel for sightseeing, especially the wetlands. The city council have plans to open up access to the wetlands in more adventurous modes with walkways and zip cords.
Maahefun on the beach, Nijah 9 Mar 2024.
Culture - Maahefun on the beach is a ritual to celebrate the coming of the fasting month of Ramadan or Roadhamas as in spoken language. Families come out on the beach or Thundi to have a meal followed by traditional games. This is a festive day for the children as much as their parents.
Fitness - There is a well established gym, making Fuahmulah an ideal venue for sports camps. The commercial potential for fitness is yet to be realised. The gym instructor Afzan remarked that they attracted more members when they were charging a monthly fee of MVR 200/-for gym use. The gym is presently patronised by about 300 members.
Athletics & Sports. The city is already a venue for national inter-school athletics competitions (2023). A cricket grounds and a number of Football & Futsal pitches are also available. The vibe is that Fuvahmulah is ready and willing to host national and regional sports events.
Running. The Fuvahmulah ring road (approx. 11 kilometres) and the proposed pedestrian walkway on the east coast of the island can become an attractive venue for fitness enthusiasts, especially runners. Fuvahmulah presents a venue for events ranging from 5K Walks, Runs, Half-marathons and full marathons. The ring road is lined with greenery and landscaped with beds of flowers enhancing your sense of well-being.
An annual Fuvahmulah Walk would lay the foundation for bigger events of the future.
Additional videos
Fuvahmulah Ring Road Concept 2019
