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Biography of Ahmed Zahid

Ahmed Zahid was born in Ga. Gemanafushi from Republic of Maldives, is the son of Hussain Manik and Aminath Didi. His father was a fisherman and with his limited earning, he sent Zahid to Addu for studies. He was one of the very first few students who went to complete studies outside the Island. This encourage him to fulfill his childhood dream of becoming Health Worker and serve the general community and internationally. Today, he is working as Community Health Officer at Shaviyani Funadhoo Atoll Hospital starting from 2010, which is one of the Atoll Hospital under Ministry of Health of Maldives. 

Counting his long journey of working in the health sector for the past 20 years, he has been working in various Islands and served as Manager of Health Facilities or as Public Health in-charge. With his dedication to the Health sector, he has achieved several recognitions and achievements for the past years. 

With the determination and help of Zahid, Shaviyani Funadhoo Atoll Hospital became the 1st to open a Tobacco Cessation Clinic outside the Capital city of Maldives. Moreover, Shaviyani Funadhoo Atoll Hospital is the only hospital that took initiative to train all health facilities regarding the Covid-19 related death care and handling. Furthermore, with his effort Lhaviyani Atoll Hospital won the Best Hospital Award two times. 

Looking at his service to health sector outside the employment, he served American Red Cross as a Training Officer of Psychological program during Tsunami Recovery project and participated in various training programs held by Maldivian Red Crescent as a volunteer trainer. Additionally, he served as a Medical Official of National Football Team under 19 and New Radiant Sports Club, which is the number one football club of Maldives free of cost. 

Further to his service, he is one of the influential social media activist against smoking and tobacco related topics. He became the first activist to raise voice against unhealthy habits on social media leading the campaign of raising voice for second hand smoke, Smoke free environments and smoking in Public places. Including this, he also published “100 reason of danger of Tobacco” which includes the tips of quitting smoke. 

Since 13 November 2012, a social media campaign named as “Tobacco Free Maldives” launched and today it reached more than seven lakhs. Further to this, he started social media campaign named as “Ehee” on 12 June 2016 and it reached more than one million and this is one of the significant social media campaign he owns. Moreover, he has created various public groups and forums on social media including Tobacco Free Maldives, Quit Smoking MV and Public health.

He was selected as an Advocate among “Face of First 1000 days of Life” to increase public health awareness on improving maternal Nutrition and infant feeding practice by Health Protection Agency and UNICEF. 

For his dedication and recognition of services to Health field and initiated awareness campaigns, he received “World No Tobacco Day Award” from World Health Organization (WHO) and received recognition from Health Protection Agency of Maldives. 

With his long journey of serving Health field for past 20 years and fulfilling his dream work, today is one the happiest day for him and his family for receiving one of the most prestigious ASIA Award (ASIA’s No.1 Business Award).