The First Lady of the Maldives, Madam Sajidha Mohamed, arrived in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on Monday as the Guest of Honour at the 11th Edition of the Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary Annual Conference. She was received at the Julius Nyerere International Airport by Hon. Riziki Juma, Tanzania’s Minister of Community Development, Gender, Women, and Special Groups.

During the conference, the First Lady will deliver a keynote address at the High-Level First Ladies Panel and participate in the Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative (MFFLI) Committee Meeting. The Merck Foundation’s annual event gathers healthcare professionals, policymakers, and academics from Africa and Asia to discuss issues like women’s empowerment, healthcare access, and disease management.

This international engagement has drawn mixed reactions. Critics argue that the First Lady holds no official title in the Maldives government, nor does she possess an official mandate to represent the Maldives abroad. They also question the use of taxpayer funds for what is considered the first "official" foreign trip by a Maldivian First Lady, suggesting such expenditures might be better allocated to other pressing domestic needs.

The event continues to emphasize collaboration on key health and social issues, though the First Lady’s involvement has ignited a debate regarding the role and authority of spouses of government leaders on the international stage.