News in brief: Lawmakers concerned over rising deco cases
Two expats acquitted on charges of covering up a murder.
19 Nov 2019, 9:00 AM
Hassan Mohamed
Lawmakers on Tuesday unanimously accepted a motion without notice submitted by MP Abdulla Jabir to bring the rising number of fishermen suffering diving decompression sickness to the government’s attention.
Two fishermen who suffered decompression while diving for bait were airlifted to the capital from the Gaaf Dhaalu Thinadhoo regional hospital in the early hours of Tuesday. After treatment at the Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital in Malé, the 27-year-old and 39-year-old men have since been transferred to Bandos Island Resort to be put into decompression chambers.
According to the early day motion – which opens the floor to an impromptu debate – most atolls are not equipped to treat diving-related emergencies but fishermen are forced to dive in search for bait fish. “Many Maldivian fishermen have lost their lives or have been disabled because of the inability of the government to take any measures to stop these accidents,” Jabir’s motion read.
“A fisherman from Gaafu Dhaalu atoll has been paralysed from half of his body because he could not get the necessary health care from Thinadhoo hospital,” it added.
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