The Maldives National University (MNU), in partnership with Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (NHCT), United Kingdom, has launched the “Strengthening Healthcare Workforce Capacity through Global Learning (SCALE)” project to support improvements in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance, hospital-acquired infection prevention, and antimicrobial stewardship in selected regional hospitals in the Maldives.

The project was officially launched by Dr Raheema Abdul Raheem, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Research and Innovation, MNU, during the National Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Conference held on 23 October 2025. The launch brought together representatives from MNU, Hulhumalé Hospital, the Ministry of Health, and the Maldives Food and Drug Authority (MFDA), reflecting the cross-sector collaboration underpinning the initiative.

Through the partnership between MNU and Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, the SCALE project seeks to strengthen healthcare workforce capacity through global learning and knowledge exchange. A key focus is enhancing the capacity of health professionals and relevant institutions to strengthen AMR surveillance and contribute to reducing hospital-acquired infections and improving antimicrobial stewardship practices within participating regional hospitals.

The project also supports national efforts to address AMR. It is aligned with Strategic Objectives 4, 5 and 6 of the National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (NAP-AMR) 2024–2029, providing an opportunity to connect international expertise and academic capacity with national priorities in infection prevention, antimicrobial resistance, and healthcare quality.

For FHS, the initiative provides a platform for strengthening links between higher education, healthcare services, and national health-sector stakeholders. It also creates opportunities for knowledge transfer and capacity development through collaboration with an international healthcare organisation, supporting the application of global learning to the Maldivian healthcare context.

The partnership demonstrates the role of the Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS), MNU, in contributing to health workforce development and evidence-informed approaches to major healthcare challenges. By bringing together academic, healthcare, government, and regulatory stakeholders, the SCALE project provides a collaborative foundation for strengthening infection prevention and antimicrobial stewardship practices and supporting more sustainable approaches to healthcare quality in the Maldives.

The initiative contributes particularly to Sustainable Development Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 4 (Quality Education), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) through its focus on healthcare improvement, workforce capacity development, and international institutional collaboration.