1. Pacific Island Child Cancer Regional Conference
Country Update VANUATU
Novotel Hotel, Nadi Dr Annette Garae
1- 2 December Registrar
Vila Central Hospital
Port Vila

2. DEMOGRAPHICS
82 islands within 12,189 km2 Population: estimated now to be 270, 926, (2009 census – 243,000) Growth rate: 2.14% Population < 14 years: 36.11% Capital: Port Vila - 45,000 (19% of the total population)

3. Health Services Health Budget – 1.3 – 1.5 billion Vatu 6 Hospitals
National Referral Hospital – Vila Central Hospital
Others on Santo, Tanna, Ambae, Sola, Norsup
Health Indicators
Infant Mortality – 25/ 1000

4. Medical Workforce Medical 3 Surgical 4 2 O&G 1 Paediatric Anesthetists
Specialists
Registrars
Advance Training
Medical Officer
Interns
Trainee Interns
Medical 3
Surgical 4 2
O&G 1
Paediatric
Anesthetists OP
Pathologist
Radiologist
Emergency 12 7 15
District Hospitals GP
Total Doctors 35

5. VCH National Referral Hospital – Based in Port Vila Service Delivery
150 beds build by the British more than 40 years
Medical Ward - 40 beds
Surgical - 40 beds
Obstetrics – 40 beds
Paediatrics – 20 beds
Tb Ward – 10 beds
Intensive Care – 2 beds
Service Delivery
Ward Services
Emergency, General Outpatients, Special Clinics
Referral Hospital
Basic Imaging Services – Plain X Ray, US
Basic Laboratory Services – Transfusion by Whole Blood or Packed cells

6. VCH – Paediatric 20 Paediatric beds + 6 beds SCN
Staff – 3 Locums, 1 Registrars, 4 Interns
9 Paediatric Nurses, 6 nurses
Average Paediatric admissions per month:
90 per month, 1000 per year
Average SCN Admissions per month
per month , per year
VCH delivers 3000 babies per year

7. Paediatric Disease Burden
Paediatric Services
Special Care Nursery
Infectious Diseases
Pneumonia
Gastroenteritis
Meningitis
Immunization
Malnutrition – 30%
High rate of EBF
High fertility rate
Family Situation
Maternal Education
Chronic Diseases
Prematurity
Birth Asphyxia
Neonatal Sepsis
Congenital Abnormalities

8. Paediatric Cancer in Vila
Average of 5 cases a year ( both medical and surgical cases)
No Audit
Medical – Most commonly Hematology
Surgical – Wilm’s Tumor , Osteosarcoma

9. Challenges Competing Health Priorities Resource Constraint
- Human Resource –
Nurses
Specialists
- Infrastructure and Services
Laboratory
Imaging
Medications
Limited Overseas Funding
‘LATE PRESENTERS’.....therefore most are palliative ...TLC..

10. Opportunities New Hospital new year Specialist Locums
Paediatric Training for Doctors and Nurses
Returning Local Specialists – Paediatric, Pathologist and Radiologist

11. TANKIU TUMAS