VANUATU HEALTH RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM

MEDICAL + NURSING + PUBLIC + ALLIED HEALTH

An annual event to showcase local health research

About The Symposium

About

The Vanuatu Health Research Symposium is a forum to highlight health research conducted across Vanuatu by the Ministry of Health and partners, including hospitals and provincial health offices.

It aligns with work towards NSDP Society Goal 3 (a healthy population that enjoys a high quality of physical, mental, spiritual and social well-being) and Society Policy Objective 6.9 (strengthen research, data and statistics for accountability and decision making). It also supports the development of evidence-based policies and plans, as emphasized in the Health Sector Strategy (2021-2030).

The first Symposium was held in 2019 with the second held in September 2021 and, the third in October 2022. The fourth Symposium is scheduled for October 2023.

A Vanuatu Health Research Network has been established.

Join VHRN Facebook Group

2023 Symposium

The theme of the 2023 Health Research Symposium is Health and Disaster - Response, Recovery and Resilience. It will be held at in Port Vila from the 12th to the 13th of October 2023.

Download Flyer Abstract Guidelines Submit Abstract


2022 Symposium

Event

The theme of the 2022 Health Research Symposium was Evidence to Impact. It was held in Luganville from 26 to 28 October 2022.

Download Flyer

Program

The Scientific Committee received a high number of quality abstracts.The Symposium program and abstracts selected for oral and poster presentation have been compiled.

Download Program & Abstracts Book

A range of support has been organized for those selected to present at the Symposium.

Mentorship is available in the lead up to the Symposium Download Mentorship Schedule Download Mentorship Overview
Presentation guidelines and a template have been developed Download Presentation Guidelines Download Presentation Template
Poster guidelines and a template have been developed Download Poster Guidelines Download Poster Template


Content

There are 37 oral presentations and 13 posters presentations to be issued at the 2022 Symposium. Abstracts, presentations and posters are available below.

Presentation type Session Presenter Topic Abstract Presentation
Oral presentation Policy BAGEO, Simeon The Farm to Hospital Initiative – Driving change through collective action; Sanma Province, 2022 View Pending
Oral presentation Maternal and Child Health BANGALINI, Terina Step up uterotonic medications in women with risks of Postpartum Hemorrhage at Godden Memorial Hospital, January 2020 to December 2021. View Pending
Oral presentation Water, Sanitation and Hygiene BANI, Ratu The analysis of water, sanitation, and hygiene services in healthcare facilities in Vanuatu, 2020 View Pending
Oral presentation Health Communication BINIHI, Melissa Rapid formative assessment on additional, COVID-19 and routine vaccines in Vanuatu, 2021 View Pending
Oral presentation Disease Management BINIHI, Tannia The impact of the 2022 influenza outbreak on asthma admissions at the Vila Central Hospital View Pending
Oral presentation Health Communication BULE, Dorinda Rumour monitoring and social listening using an AI tool, Talkwalker View Pending
Oral presentation Water, Sanitation and Hygiene COLEMAN, A Making Inclusion Meaningful - A new way to improve sanitation and hygiene for people with disabilities in Vanuatu View Pending
Oral presentation Maternal and Child Health COPPARD, Miika omen’s knowledge and beliefs about contraceptive use in West Ambae, Vanuatu View Pending
Oral presentation Maternal and Child Health DAMUTALAU, Boniface The state of cervical cancer screening in Vanuatu: A retrospective analysis 2015-2020 View Pending
Oral presentation Disease Management DORRAS, Emma Community utilisation of the Diabetes Support Program at Wan Smolbag Theatre, Shefa Province 2019-2021 View Pending
Oral presentation Policy FANAI, Saen Road traffic injury could be minimized when individual road users take more responsibility for their safety and the safety of others: Perception of Healthcare Workers in Vanuatu View Pending
Oral presentation Infectious Diseases FANGARIA, Gilson Surveillance of COVID-19 outbreak at Vila Central Hospital, Vanuatu, March-August 2022 View Pending
Oral presentation Policy SAEL, Fred Strengthening community level primary health care in Vanuatu: a trial of output-based incentives for Village Health Workers View Pending
Oral presentation Infectious Diseases IAVRO, Edna Improving understanding of the hepatitis B cascade of care in Vanuatu View Pending
Oral presentation Health Communication IAVRO, Lola Measuring the efficacy of phone monitoring of travellers in quarantine in 2021 in Shefa Province View Pending
Oral presentation Policy JAMES, Sarah Creating a more robust, inclusive, and sustainable food system for population health in Vanuatu View Pending
Oral presentation Disease Management JEANTINO, Jenneth Evaluation of antibiotic prescribing patterns among inpatients at the Northern Provincial Hospital medical ward-a retrospective study. View Pending
Oral presentation Maternal and Child Health KAFER, Georgia Understanding the impact of micronutrient deficiencies on birth outcomes in Vanuatu and in the wider Western Pacific View Pending
Oral presentation Health Communication KALMATAK, Melissa Engaging youth voice in decision-making through U-Report View Pending
Oral presentation Policy MANWO, Obed Assessing Public Awareness around the De-Centralized Model of Care in Shefa Province in 2022 View Pending
Oral presentation Water, Sanitation and Hygiene MARIASUA, Joanne Low investigation rate of Leptospirosis cases reported in Vanuatu from 2020-2022 View Pending
Oral presentation Disease Management MATHIAS, Agnes Analysis of outpatient antibiotic consumption at Vila Central Hospital over four years. View Pending
Oral presentation Water, Sanitation and Hygiene MOMMEN, Brecht WASH in schools in Vanuatu; moving from pilot to national scale View Pending
Oral presentation Infectious Diseases AMOS, Renata Descriptive analysis of national tuberculosis data, Vanuatu, 2016 to 2020 View Pending
Oral presentation Maternal and Child Health NARASIA, Jenny Understanding health workers’ views on addressing the unmet need for family planning in Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands View Pending
Oral presentation Policy NIRUA, Marie Laure Comparing “Fixed-Site” and “Mobile-Site” COVID-19 vaccine delivery strategies in reaching vulnerable peoples in Vanuatu View Pending
Oral presentation Health Communication OBED, Jimmy Vanuatu health care workers’ attitudes to COVID-19 during community outbreak View Pending
Oral presentation Infectious Diseases TABI, Markson Investigation of an outbreak of arthritis and conjunctivitis of unknown origin in Central Pentecost View Pending
Oral presentation Policy TARI, Mahlon The Growing Cost of Surgical Interventions for Diabetes Treatment at Vila Central Hospital View Pending
Oral presentation Disease Management TARIP, Andre Change in acuity observed following implementation of the Interagency Integrated Triage Tool at Vila Central Hospital Emergency Department, Shefa Province, 2021-2022 View Pending
Oral presentation Water, Sanitation and Hygiene TASSO, Graham Vila Central Hospital baseline data on hand hygiene from June to July 2022 View Pending
Oral presentation Infectious Diseases TOA SITOBATA, Florita A community prevalence study to measure the level of under-detection of COVID-19 on Efate Island, Vanuatu View Pending
Oral presentation Health Communication VAN GEMERT, Caroline Evaluation of a digital tool to screen for COVID-19 symptoms among international travellers entering Vanuatu requiring quarantine, 2020 View Pending
Oral presentation Disease Management VUHU, Kathy The need for control of antibiotics for the prevention and management of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) View Pending
Oral presentation Maternal and Child Health WARPUT, Juliana The association between early initiation of antenatal care and birth outcomes in teenage mothers at Northern Provincial Hospital in Santo, 2021-2022 View Pending
Oral presentation Infectious Diseases WILLIAMS, Wendy Assessment of the use and acceptability of electronic disease notification forms piloted during the COVID-19 response in Vanuatu, 2022 View Pending
Oral presentation Disease Management ZACHARIE, Nathan Comparing self-reported rates of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) among people self-identifying as living with a disability to the broader population during the Vanuatu COVID-19 vaccination rollout (2021 – 2022) View Pending


Presentation type Session Presenter Topic Abstract Presentation
Poster presentation Infectious Diseases AMEARA, Kali The Missing Cog Synchronizing the Cogs of Multi-Sectoral Operation in Vanuatu during an ever-changing Health Pandemic in 2020-2022 View Pending
Poster presentation Health System BULE, Rhoda Integrated curative and public oral health school outreach to Penama Province: An evaluation of implementing the Health Promoting Schools Program in rural Vanuatu View Pending
Poster presentation Infectious Diseases CARTER, Kevin The prevalence of MDR-TB among TB admissions in Tafea province: A retrospective study done from 2018-2022 View Pending
Poster presentation NCDs COLEMAN, Allison Struggling, Surviving or Thriving – A new way to manage incontinence for people with disabilities in Vanuatu View Pending
Poster presentation NCDs GAUTHIER-COLES, Christopher Comparing self-reported rates of hypertension during the Vanuatu COVID-19 vaccination rollout (2021 – 2022) with the 2011 WHO Vanuatu country profile hypertension statistics View Pending
Poster presentation Health System NIMBTIK, Berlinrose Strengths and barriers to inclusive health service delivery in the Vanuatu Health Sector View Pending
Poster presentation Health System POILAPA, Relvie Leaving no-one behind: Improving menstrual health for people with intellectual disabilities and their caregivers in emergencies, Sanma, Vanuatu (2020-2022) View Pending
Poster presentation NCDs RAM, Sharan Leveraging community health workers in scaling up diabetic retinopathy screening in Fiji: a qualitative study View Pending
Poster presentation Health System TAKOAR, Rachel Assessing the advantages and limitations of implementing telehealth in Vanuatu View Pending
Poster presentation Water, Sanitation and Hygiene TALEO, Christina Prevention of Waterborne Disease: Safe Drinking Water View Pending
Poster presentation Water, Sanitation and Hygiene TASSO, Graham An Infection Prevention and Control Perspective of COVID -19 Outbreak Response at Vila Central Hospital, Vanuatu. View Pending
Poster presentation Infectious Diseases TELUKLUK, Antoine Development of updated guidance for TB treatment partners in Malampa Province View Pending
Poster presentation NCDs WELIN-TAMATA, Anne Congenital Talipes Equinovarus in Vanuatu View Pending



2021 Symposium

The theme of the 2021 Health Research Symposium was Evidence to Impact. It was held at Holiday Inn in Port Vila from 23 to 24 September 2021.

Download Flyer

Program

The 2021 Health Research Symposium included plenary addresses, oral presentations and poster sessions on clinical and public health and nursing.

Download the Program

Content

There were 32 oral presentations and 11 posters presentations issued at the 2021 Symposium. Abstracts, presentations and posters are available below.

SessionPresenterTopicAbstractPresentation
Opening Turnbull, Mark The doctor-patient relationship: exactly how influencial are doctors in the lives of their patients. NA NA
Opening Natuman, Sereana Evidence to impact NA View
Opening Williams, Wendy Vanuatu Health Research Ethics Committee (VHREC) process NA View
Opening Ko, Eunyoung Partnership for health research in Vanuatu View View
Emergency Medicine Toloka, Hillary Patients' satisfaction of the care provided at the Emergency Department and Outpatient Department at Vila Central Hospital, Vanuatu. View View
Emergency Medicine Kauh, Vega Electronic data registry to help inform the Emergency Department on key performance indicators View View
Emergency Medicine Fred, Debbie Improving reporting rates of hospitalized pneumonia cases in Vanuatu: An evaluation study View View
Emergency Medicine Kalsakau, Ryan Brian Clinical audit of nebulizer use at NPH ED View View
Emergency Medicine Hinge, Lawrence Effectiveness of community mental health home visit in reducing inpatient admission of mentally ill patients: a look at Vila Central Hospital?s experience from 2012 to 2021 View View
Health Systems Leodoro, Basil Deploying telemedicine in capacity constrained contexts: lessons from the Vanuatu Inter-island Telemedicine and Learning Project View View
Health Systems Sitobata, Mackenzie Work challenges and opportunites faced by medica intern doctors in Vanuatu: A qualitative study View View
Health Systems Vile, Sharin Comparative analysis of provincial Health Emergency Structures throughout Vanuatu. View View
Health Systems Fred, Sael Prevalence and impacts of disability on Primary Health Care service delivery, management and utilisation in Vanuatu View View
Health Systems Cornish, Matthew J. Malnutrition in remote Vanuatu: cyclone response survey View View
COVID-19 Binihi, Melissa Understanding key COVID-19 health messages and review how and from who communities are receiving and accessing information about COVID-19. View View
COVID-19 Kalulu, Aleesha COVID-19 vaccine safety surveillance in Vanuatu in the first three months of implementation, 2021 View View
COVID-19 Pheu, Alexandre COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy in health care workers at Vila Central Hospital View View
Maternal and Child Health Natuman, Sereana Hepatitis B the Vanuatu Story View View
Maternal and Child Health Garae, Annette The outcome of low birthweight babies at VCH and NPH (May 2019 - August 2020) View View
Maternal and Child Health Lehi, Margaret A retrospective study of diabetes in pregnacy at Vila Central Hospital, Vanuatu from January 1st 2014 to December 31st 2018 View View
Maternal and Child Health Noah, Leiwaku First 1000 days End line survey results View View
Non-Communicable Diseases Lango, Thompson 10 Years of amputations In Santo: should the first cut be the deepest? View View
Non-Communicable Diseases Kepoue, Andrew Expanding NCD services to remote population of Vanuatu through mass screening and referral View View
Non-Communicable Diseases Natuman, Walesi Valeria A critical evaluation of rheumatic heart disease registration process after school screening program: a retrospective study of class 6 Students In Central Division of Fiji. View NA
Non-Communicable Diseases Toa, Florita Survival rate of proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) patients undergoing laser treatment at Pacific Eye Institute, Suva, Fiji, from 2012 to 2017 View View
Infectious Diseases Mariasua, Joanne Review of outbreak thresholds of infectious diseases from the Syndromic Surveillance Database in Vanuatu from 2018-2021 View View
Infectious Diseases Tagavi, Lekon Deployment of Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes in Port Vila to reduce dengue View View
Infectious Diseases Donald, Wesley Vanuatu roadmap to malaria elimination in the Pacific Region View View
Infectious Diseases Elliott, Lana Access to and use of mosquito bed nets for malaria prevention in Vanuatu View View
Wrap up van Gemert, Caroline Taking the next steps to publication NA View
Wrap up Guyant, Philippe Development of a prioritised health research agenda for Vanuatu: work in progress NA View
Wrap up Cornish, Matthew J. Summary of Symposium outcomes and recommendations NA View
SessionPresenterTopicAbstractPoster
Emergency Medicine Atua, Vincent Admission trends from Port Vila Central Hospital Emergency Department for 2020: a retrospective data analysis View View
Maternal and Child Health Deed, Emily Vanuatu Health Facility Assessment: sexual and gender based violence services View View
Maternal and Child Health Deed, Emily Health facility readiness and service availability assessment for sexual and reproductive health in Vanuatu View View
COVID-19 Garae, Crystal Postmortem detection of SARS-CoV-2 after exposure to seawater View View
General Ko, Eunyoung Designing policies that work NA View
Maternal and Child Health Leodoro, Basil Intimate partner violence and health outcomes experienced by women who are pregnant: a cross-sectional survey in Sanma Province, Vanuatu View View
Infectious Diseases Taleo, Fasihah 2019 Integrated NTD MDA with NCD Screening on Tanna and Efate island View View
Infectious Diseases Van Gemert, Caroline Triple elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B in the Pacific Islands View View
Infectious Diseases Williams, Wendy Comparison of strategies for daily surveillance for symptom development among international travellers entering Vanuatu requiring quarantine, Oct to Dec 2020 View View
Infectious Diseases Iavro, Edna Prevalence of scabies in Sanma Province, Malampa NA View
Emergency Medicine Clark, Danielle Vanuatu Advanced Life Support course NA View

Key Recommendations

Key recommendations from the Symposium included:

  • It is recommended that the Vanuatu Health Research Symposium is held on an annual basis
  • It is recommended that the Vanuatu Health Research Symposium is adopted as a key Ministry of Health activity and that the coordination and implementation is led by the Ministry of Health and that conference organisation and administrative support is obtained
  • It is recommended that research skills and capacity building is strengthened and integrated with conference planning in future years
  • It is recommended that future Vanuatu Health Research Symposiums continue to include both national and provincial representation from across the Ministry of Health including medical, nursing, allied health and public health areas
Download 2021 Symposium Report

Award Winners

Ten presenters were selected for awards at the 2021 Symposium:

  • Best presentation with a provincial focus: Hillary Toloka
  • Best presentation with a national focus: Sael Fred
  • Best presentation from an early career researcher: Aleesha Kalulu
  • Best presentation from a senior researcher: Dr Sereana Natuman
  • Best nurse-led presentation: Lawrence Hinge
  • Best clinical presentation: Dr Margaret Lehi
  • Best public health presentation: Lekon Tagavi
  • Best poster presentation: Dr Crystal Garae
  • Best overall presentation: Dr Annette Garae
  • Judges choice: Joanne Mariasua

Awards were sponsored by:

  • Donations from Symposium attendees
  • Bank of the South Pacific
  • Dr Caroline van Gemert
  • Save the Children Vanuatu
  • Vanuatu Red Cross Society
  • Vanuatu Medical and Dental Association
  • The Medical Centre
  • Vanuatu Nursing Association

Organizing Committee

The Committee was chaired by Dr Vincent Atua (Vila Central Hospital) and included Dr Lawrence Boe (Vanuatu Medical and Dental Association), Dr Matthew Cornish (private physician), Dr Tessa Knox (WHO Vanuatu Country Liaison Office), Yohann Lemonnier (Vanuatu Health Program) and Dr Caroline van Gemert (Vanuatu Health Program).

Supporters

Financial and technical support for the Symposium was provided by:

  • Vanuatu Ministry of Health
  • Vanuatu Medical and Dental Association
  • Australian Aid
  • New Zealand Aid Programme
  • Pasifika Medical Association Group
  • Vanuatu Health Program
  • World Health Organization


Resources

Workshops were conducted in advance of the 2021 Health Research Symposium, with technical assistance provided for the development of abstracts, presentations and posters. Guidance was also produced to support presenters.

Download Tips for Presenting Results Download Tips for Posters