The Olhu Hiyaa cat facility, a dedicated space for the care and management of stray cats in Male’ City, is set to transition from the Male’ City Council to the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Welfare. This move comes after a directive from the President’s Office to convert the facility into a permanent establishment under the Ministry’s oversight.
Male’ City Mayor Adam Azim revealed the decision during a recent council meeting. He shared a letter from the Ministry stating that the Cabinet had approved the transfer of Olhu Hiyaa’s management. The Ministry has been tasked with ensuring the facility operates as a long-term solution for managing stray animals.
To facilitate this process, the Ministry has scheduled a meeting with the Male’ City Council on December 4th to discuss the transition, citing Article 10 of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed earlier this year.
Mayor Azim expressed mixed feelings about the decision, noting that the facility was constructed using funds from the council’s budget. Despite these reservations, the council agreed to comply with the directive.
Deputy Mayor Ahmed Nareesh emphasized the need for reimbursement, stating that the council should be compensated for the resources invested in building the facility. Several councilors echoed this sentiment, suggesting that the transfer should only proceed once the facility’s operations are fully confirmed.
Current Challenges and Delays
Although the council had begun preparing to transfer cats to the facility, the Ministry has raised concerns about the readiness of Olhu Hiyaa. The Ministry highlighted the following issues:
- Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs): The Ministry had previously shared guidelines for transferring cats to the facility. However, the council has yet to provide a response or adhere to these protocols.
- Inadequate Services: The Ministry stated that the facility lacks essential services required for the health and well-being of the cats.
- Potential Risks: Moving the cats prematurely could compromise their health and result in inadequate care.
In light of these concerns, the Ministry has ordered a temporary halt to transferring cats until all issues are addressed.
The Olhu Hiyaa facility, envisioned as a significant step toward humane stray animal management in Male’, holds potential for long-term solutions to animal welfare. +
