Cliff, who has worked in health care since 2001, is now one of a growing group of frontline professionals trained through a child protection initiative supported by UNICEF and led by the Vanuatu Ministry of Health. The programme equips health workers to become Master Trainers, helping colleagues across the country recognise and respond to violence against children.

For Cliff, the training was eye-opening.

“As health workers, we are the first line of defence. Our role goes far beyond medicine; we are now trained to recognise the signs of trauma, respond with the specialised care every child deserves, and refer to other services”, he said.

The training goes beyond awareness. It provides practical tools for prevention, early identification, referral and clinical care for children who may be experiencing abuse or violence.

“This isn’t just a quick fix,” said Eric Durpaire, UNICEF’s Chief of Field Office in Vanuatu. “We are building child protection into the very foundation of the health system. By training local staff to be experts, we’re making sure the knowledge stays here in Vanuatu to protect children for years to come.”

Health workers are often the first trusted professionals families encounter. Strengthening their ability to recognise warning signs and respond appropriately can change the trajectory of a child’s life.

For Cliff, one of the most powerful lessons focused on emotional abuse – something he says is often overlooked.

“It really surprised me how common it can be,” he explained. “Sometimes the language we use with children feels normal, even joking, but it can affect their wellbeing and mental health.”

The issue resonates with him not only as a health professional but also as a parent.

“I have two teenage girls. I can see young people face emotional challenges,” he said. “Children need spaces where they feel safe and heard.”

That belief is driving his next step. As a newly trained Master Trainer, Cliff plans to integrate child protection into the induction programme for every new health staff member. Nurses returning to Vanuatu after studying overseas will also receive the training before being deployed to health facilities across the islands.

By embedding child protection into staff induction, the knowledge will spread through hospitals and clinics throughout the country.

“It will become part of how we work,” Cliff said. “Every health worker should understand how to recognise abuse and what to do.”

The initiative, led by the Ministry of Health with UNICEF support, also strengthens referral pathways with partners including the Child Desk of the Ministry of Justice, Youth and Community Services, Police, Vanuatu Women’s Centre and Family REACH Centre, ensuring coordinated survivor-centred care.

For Elizabeth William, a midwife working in women’s health at the same hospital, those connections are critical. With more than 15 years of experience in nursing and midwifery, she joined the training to strengthen how she supports vulnerable patients.

“I came across a case of an abused child, and it stayed with me,” she said. “Training like this helps us improve our practice and better support survivors.”

She says one of the biggest lessons was learning to build trust and listen carefully to children.

“When we take time and use the right approach, children feel safer to speak,” Elizabeth explained. “And when we understand all the services available, we can link families to the help they need.”

For Cliff, the ultimate goal is a health system where protecting children is everyone’s responsibility.

“In our culture, some behaviours have become normal,” he said. “But we need to shift our mindset and develop new habits that keep children safe.”

Thanks to the funding from the Government of Australia and the partnership between UNICEF, that shift is beginning – one health worker at a time.

And for Cliff, the mission is clear: ensure that every nurse, every clinic and every hospital across Vanuatu is ready to stand up for children.

SOURCE: VANUATU DAILY POST