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| Shaviyani
Atoll had been one of the atolls in the country with very slow
development. Due to the confinement of the people in their localised
small scale occupations and almost no development projects until
the recent past, the atoll lacked developmental progress. However,
within the last few years steady progress was seen in all areas.
New innovations in the overall management of the atoll, various
development strategies and programmes launched in the atoll
by the the government with strong community support, the situation
in Shaviyani Atoll has changed considerably. Now, all islands
have made immense progress in terms of development. Economic
status of the people have improved and higher standards in education
are maintained and health facilities are enhanced. These developments
created better employment opportunities. The result is a unanimous
feeling of joy and pride in the hearts of the people. Thus it
is with heartfelt appreciation that the people of this atoll
convey their gratitude to H.E. Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom through
this Shaviyani Atoll website. |
Geography
North Miladhummadulu (Shaviyani Atoll) is situated
in between the two atolls, South Thiladhunmathi (Haa Dhaal Atoll)
and South Miladhunmathi (Noonu Atoll). This atoll bears the name
of an island called Miladhoo in South Miladhummadulu. This atoll
is found between 6 00"N and 6 30"N latitudes and 72 55"E
and 73 18"E longitudes. The atoll has 37 miles. Since it is
the third atoll from the north of the country it is assigned the
letter 'C' as the atoll code. The atoll has a total of 51 islands
of which only 16 are inhabited.
Islands in North Miladhummadulu.
| Inhabited
Islands |
Uninhabited
islands |
| 1 |
Kanditheem |
1 |
Kakaaeriyadhoo |
19 |
Dholhiyadhoo |
| 2 |
Noomara |
2 |
Fushifaru |
20 |
Dholhiyadhoo
Kudarah |
| 3 |
Goidhoo |
3 |
Neyo |
21 |
Dhekinanfaru |
| 4 |
Feydhoo |
4 |
Kudadhoo |
22 |
Gallaidhoo |
| 5 |
Feevah |
5 |
Madidhoo |
23 |
Gallaidhoo
Kudafaru |
| 6 |
Bilehfahi |
6 |
Kuredhoo |
24 |
Keekeemini |
| 7 |
Foakaidhoo |
7 |
Ribudhoo |
25 |
Bolissafaru |
| 8 |
Narudhoo |
8 |
Nalandhoo |
26 |
Dhiguvelidhoo |
| 9 |
Maakandoodho |
9 |
Migoodhoo |
27 |
Mathikomandoo |
| 10 |
Maroshi |
10 |
Hirumbadhoo |
28 |
Muleehuraa |
| 11 |
Lhaimagu |
11 |
Farukolhu |
29 |
Kudafaru |
| 12 |
Komandoo |
12 |
Dhonvelihuraa |
30 |
Boduhuraa |
| 13 |
Maaungoodhoo |
13 |
kanbaalifaru |
31 |
Naalaahuraa |
| 14 |
Funadhoo |
14 |
Eriyadhoo |
32 |
Hurasfaru |
| 15 |
Milandhoo |
15 |
Ekasdhoo |
33 |
Naainfaru |
| |
|
16 |
Vangaru |
34 |
Kunburudhoo |
|
|
17 |
Kudalhaimandhoo |
35 |
Koshinbi |
|
|
18 |
Firunbaidhoo |
36 |
Bishuraa |
| |
|
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The
eastern rim of the atoll begins with the island Neyo and ends with
Kudalhaimandhoo. The western rim begins with Kanditheemu and ends
at Gallaidhoo. The eastern side of the atoll between Noomara and
Feevah has the inner atoll water, which is opened to the Indian
Ocean by a bigger channel called Noomara Channel. Another chain
of islands consisting of Feydhoo, Madidhoo, Kuredhoo, Foakaidhoo,
Rinbudhoo, Narudhoo, Migoodhoo, Hirunbadhoo, Lhaimagu, Kanbaalifaru,
Firunbaidhoo, Vangaraa and Dholhiyadhoo form the second region of
the atoll. During high seas, the sea around this chain gets very
rough. In the middle of the atoll, lying south are Maroshi, Medhukuburudhoo,
Madidhoo and Madikuredhoo. North to these islands lie the island
of Feydhoo.
The islands in this atoll are small with half of
the islands having less than 20 hectares of land area. There are
9 islands that are smaller than one hectare. These islands comprise
18% of the islands. The smallness of the atoll indicates to the
islands' vulnerability to environmental impacts.
Population
The population of the atoll grew from ...... to ......
between the census years 1995 and 2000. At the end of the year 2003,
the population of the atoll is 14218. The male and female population
stand at 7373 and 6845 respectively. Between 1995 and 2000, the
population growth rate was found at 1.9. The population under the
age of 15 is currently ........ The working population stands at
.....
Economy
The main sources of income of the atoll population
come from fishing and agriculture. The islands of Feevah and Goidhoo
perform relatively well in agricultural production.
Fishing is carried out throughout the year, during both monsoons
by most of the islands. The island of Komandhoo performs well in
fishing. Apart from Pole and Line fishing which is common in the
country, the atoll is good for reef fishing including 'Faana and
Huifi Landa' which are profitable fishery export products.
[insert photos of kunaa, santhi, mulhoashi etc]
Mat weaving, rope weaving and other products such
as baskets from coconut and screwpine leaves are produced commonly
in these islands. Bileifahi is well-known for such craftsmanship.
In addition, people bring income from their engagement
in the tourism industry and other commercial work in the capital
island, Male.
Health
Basic medical care was introduced for the first time
in the atoll with the establishment of a health centre on 25 December
1970 in the island of Lhaimagu. This health centre was shifted to
Farukolhu Funadhoo (now Funadhoo) in 1971 when the island was made
the atoll capital. This health centre is now developed to a Atoll
Hospital which has a well equipped laboratory and operation theatre
facilities and are manned by a gynechologist, anaesthesist and a
general practitioner.
At present there are 4 health centres in the atoll,
which are in the islands Kanditheemu, Milandhoo, Bilehfahi and Komandoo.
The health centres provide health care by a medical doctor and trained
nurses and basic laboratory services are available except Kanditheemu
health centre. Maternal and child health services are priority services
in these health centres. Family planning services and health education
programs are also conducted at the health centre. The health centre
is also responsible for carrying out growth monitoring and vaccination
programs. All the other islands have basic health care services
provided by family health workers. Health posts have been built
in majority of these islands.
Majority of the population of the atoll have access
to safe drinking water. 40% of the households have been provided
with water storage tanks on a soft loan basis under the Shaviyani
Atoll development project and Atoll Development Committee. Most
households have safe sanitation facilities.
A desalination plant which uses advanced modern technology
was installed in the island of Komandoo. This desalination plant,
which was the outcome of a community initiated project funded jointly
by Ministry of Health and Atoll Development Committee has started
supplying piped water to all households in Komandoo from the begining
of 2004.
A pilot programme to develop plans to reduce incidence
of water and sanitation diseases and empower communities to develop
sustainable plans has been initiated in collaboration with Maldives
Water and Sanitation Authority and UNICEF. The programme, Community
Planning for Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, which
was opened on 11th August by the Atoll Chief Mr Mohamed Mahir
aims to work initially with nine islands in the Atoll.
Education
Primary education is universal in all inhabited islands
of Shaviyani Atoll. Every island has a school providing education
at least up to primary level. These include 3 government schools,
1 private school and 12 community schools. A total of 8 schools
which teach up to secondary level education are in the atoll. They
are the Atoll Education Centre, Atoll School, Funadhoo School, Milandhoo
School, Madharusathul Munawwara in Maroshi, Feevah School, Foakaidhoo
School, Maaungoodhoo School and Lhaimagu School. Most of the secondary
schools yet offer only commerce stream subjects. The schools which
offer both the Science and CommerceS streme subjects are the Shaviyani
Atoll Education Centre in Komandoo and the 3 schools in Kanditheemu,
Maakandoodhoo and Milandhoo. Most schools have computer labs funded
jointly by parents, government and the Shaviyani Atoll Development
Project.
At the end of 2003, the student population of the
atoll was 5248, manned by 239 trained primary teachers, 79 temporary
untrained teachers and 63 expatriate teachers.
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