Objective To identify the major risk factors for noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) among the population of the capital city Male. Methods We undertook a cross-sectional survey among the 25-64-year-age group using a multi-stage sampling method with households as sampling unit. Information on behavioral, physiological, and biochemical risk factors was obtained through standardized methods as recommended by the STEPS survey guideline of the World Health Organization. Age-adjusted prevalence was calculated using the census figures for the year 2000. Results Among 2,028 individuals who participated in the survey, complete biochemical data were available for 1,506 subjects. The prevalence of NCD risk factors was high among both men and women in low education group: current smoking (39.9, 9.9%); overweight (BMI C 23 kg/ m 2 ) (60.8, 65.5%); abdominal obesity (24.2, 54.1%); raised blood pressure (29.7, 32.9%); raised blood glucose (4.3, 4.7%); hypercholesterolemia (53.7, 54.9%). Conclusion The significant burden posed by the NCD risk factors along with the gender and socioeconomic differentials point to the need for public health action. The Ministry of Health has already initiated a comprehensive response to this threat. The experience and lessons from this survey will be useful for developing a comprehensive and sustainable surveillance system in the country.

Being a small island and low-middle income country (LMIC) heavily dependent on global markets for sustaining its basic needs and health system, Maldives faced specific challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. This was reinforced through tensions between the heavily centralized healthcare delivery and a partially decentralized public health system. Using the pillars of pandemic response proposed by

Social value orientations (SVOs) of a society determine peoples' behaviour and are critical for young democracies in crises. This paper draws on the Maldives Values in Crisis survey, conducted during the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic. SVOs assessed using the Schwartz Personal Values Questionnaire shows that Maldivian society weigh slightly towards prosocial. Urban-rural, age, and gender determine the SVOs on the dimension of Openness to change versus Conservation while age and gender determine the SVOs on Self-enhancement versus Self-transcendence dimension. Confidence in the public institutions were moderate and not associated with the SVOs. The moderate level of SVOs and confidence in institutions reflects the democratic landscape of the country. Although prosocial SVOs are favourable for implementing containment measures of the pandemic, without a strong value orientation towards conservation and self-transcendence, and confidence in the institutions, the country faces the risk of non-compliance to measures and escalation of the crisis.

The objective of the study was to find the effectiveness of contract tracing and containment measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Contact tracing approach in the Maldives was examined and information on the cases and contacts was extracted from the GO.DATA software and the outbreak online database that was adopted by the Maldives for COVID-19 epidemic. A mathematical model was developed to provide information on expected number of cases and contacts. The effectiveness of contact tracing was analyzed by comparing the model-projected figures and the actual cases and contacts reported. The setting was National Emergency Operations Centre of the Maldives for COVID-19 outbreak, and the subjects were cases and contacts of COVID-19. Up to July 19, 2020 (week 29), there were 2966 confirmed cases and 23 091 contacts traced. The procedures employed in the contact tracing and containment measures in the Maldives were effective in delaying the spread of COVID-19 in the community. The cases and contacts were found to be lower than the predicted mathematical model.

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