Maternal Child Health Clinic receives boost from VAHP

Aug 6, 2024 | Initiatives and Projects | 0

Children’s Day 2024 was a double celebration at the Maternal Child Health (MCH) clinic, thanks to the Vanuatu Australia Health Partnership (VAHP).

Save the Children enriched the occasion by donating a new TV screen and a celebratory cake. The MCH team acknowledged VAHP’s continued support for the children under their care, who range in age from two weeks to one year old, for the second consecutive year.

“This TV screen, along with recent gifts at the Pikinini Corner—a collection of baby toys—aims to create a more engaging environment where children can play and learn while waiting for their appointments with their mothers and younger siblings,” said Ms Roslinda Narwayeng, Nurse in Charge.

“The TV screen will serve not only as a source of entertainment but also as an educational resource, broadcasting informative videos and programmes that help educate mothers on essential childcare practices.”

Ms Narwayeng said the MCH clinic team regularly weighs the babies brought to the clinic and ensure they receive fundamental health services to maintain their well-being.

She added that the ongoing support from the VAHP demonstrates a joint effort to boost maternal and child healthcare, making a positive impact in the community.

SOURCE: VANUATU DAILY POST

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Vanuatu’s education crisis a ‘national disaster’ – Pikinini Playtime CEO August 12, 2026
Pikinini Playtime founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Tony Batten has described Vanuatu’s education situation as a “national disaster”, warning that poor literacy outcomes among children could affect the country’s future development. Speaking during an interview on Kava Mo Kajap, Mr. Batten said reports that around 70 per cent of children are unable to read and write at the expected level should be treated as a serious national concern. “I think it is a national disaster, like a hurricane or an earthquake,” Mr. Batten said. He said Vanuatu’s greatest resource is not its land or natural resources, but its people, and education is the foundation needed to develop that human resource. “Human resources are the number one resource for Vanuatu,” he said. Mr. Batten said countries that have successfully moved from being less developed to more advanced economies have done so by investing heavily in education and building a skilled population. However, he said Vanuatu’s current education results remain a major concern despite the country spending a significant amount of its national budget on education. “Vanuatu gives a lot of money per capita into education, but the results are still among the lowest in the Pacific,” he said. The Pikinini Playtime founder said the challenge is not only about funding but about how the education system delivers results. He questioned why many students continue to leave school without basic reading and writing skills despite years spent in classrooms. Mr. Batten said the impact of poor education outcomes can also be seen in the country’s workforce, where businesses often recruit skilled workers from overseas to fill positions. “We bring people from the Philippines and other countries to do accounting, bookkeeping, management, building and supervisory work, but many ni-Vanuatu are not able to take those opportunities because they do not have the basic education,” he said. He said the literacy issue must be addressed early because children who fail to develop strong reading skills in their early years often struggle throughout their education journey. Mr. Batten also raised concerns about the value placed on education within the system. He said teacher absenteeism, weak accountability and a lack of support for educators contribute to children losing confidence in learning. “When children see that school is not important, they begin to believe they don’t need school,” he said. Mr. Batten acknowledged that many teachers are working under difficult conditions but said the system needs stronger support, training and leadership to improve outcomes. He believes improving education requires everyone involved — government, schools, teachers, principals and parents — to work together. “Children are smart. They have the ability. But they need the right support and the right opportunities,” he said. Mr. Batten said addressing literacy must become a national priority because the future of Vanuatu depends on the quality of education provided to today’s children. SOURCE: VANUATU DAILY POST

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Maternal Child Health Clinic receives boost from VAHP

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Maternal Child Health Clinic receives boost from VAHP

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