Villa College's Faculty of Health Sciences recently held its fourth Oath Taking and White Coat Ceremony, bringing together 104 students from the nursing, pharmacy and phlebotomy disciplines with senior figures from the college and the wider health sector. Villa College was the first institution in the Maldives to introduce a White Coat Ceremony, and this event continued a tradition the faculty has now marked four times. Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, Aishath Mala, opened proceedings with welcoming remarks.

White coats were presented to students of the Bachelor of Pharmacy, Certificate 4 in Pharmacy and National Certificate 3 in Phlebotomy programmes. The handover was carried out by the Minister of Health, Family and Welfare, Ms Geela Ali, together with Rector Dr Ahmed Anwar, Vice Rector Associate Professor Dr Ali Najeeb and Dean Aishath Mala. The white coat is a longstanding symbol of entry into the health professions, and its presentation marks the point at which students begin to take on the responsibilities that come with clinical work.

The professional oath extended more widely, taken by students of the Bachelor of Pharmacy, Certificate 4 in Pharmacy, Diploma in Nursing, Certificate 4 in Nursing and National Certificate 3 in Phlebotomy programmes. It was administered by Ms Aminath Zeeniya, Managing Director of Aasandha Company Limited and a Registered Nurse Midwife, who led students in a commitment to honesty and trustworthiness in their professional conduct. The spread of qualifications reflects the structure of the faculty itself, which admits students at certificate, diploma and degree level and marks each of these stages within the same occasion.

In her address as Chief Guest, the Minister of Health, Family and Welfare, Ms Geela Ali, spoke about the scale of responsibility that graduates carry as they enter the health sector, encouraging them to serve with honesty and compassion. She also acknowledged Villa College's role in developing the health professionals the country needs. Vice Rector Associate Professor Dr Ali Najeeb followed with his own remarks, noting that Villa College students should be recognisable by their moral and ethical conduct as they take up the responsibilities of professional life.

The ceremony brought together the college's academic leadership, a serving government minister and a senior figure from the health sector to mark a shared moment for students across several programmes. In doing so, it reflected the faculty's continued focus on preparing capable and conscientious health professionals for service in the Maldives.