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- HIV/AIDS THREAT December 1, 2022
Although Vanuatu currently has low numbers of people living with Human Immunodefiency Virus (HIV) and very high compliance with treatment, the threat of more cases remains. The Ministry of Health (MOH) relayed this in a statement to mark World AIDS Day today. The Ministry said HIV is a public health threat to Vanuatu. Currently, there are eight people living with HIV in Vanuatu, all of whom are on antiretroviral treatment and 90% are virally suppressed. The government, through the MOH supports clients with medication supplies and travel/or transportation to main hospitals for medical review every six months. The MOH said it is working with partners such as Wan Smol Bag, Vanuatu Family Health Association and VPride to address inequalities that continue to be a HIV global health threat. They are working to increase the availability, quality and suitability of services, for HIV treatment, testing and prevention, so that everyone is well-served. Also, the Ministry is working to reform practices to tackle stigma and exclusion faced by people living with HIV and by key populations, so that everyone is shown respect and feels comfortable to access services. Partners such as World Health Organisation, United Nations Development Programme and Australian Government through the Vanuatu Health programme provide technical support, funding and training to strengthen prevention and response efforts. “Only by working together, we can equalise access to HIV services such as testing, treatment and prevention measures such as condoms and address these inequalities which hinder progress towards ending AIDS,” the MOH stated. According to the statement, the HIV programme is also working to increase testing, particularly for antenatal mothers and high-risk groups. “Upskilling of healthcare workers is also ongoing to ensure that clients receive the best care possible and feel comfortable to seek care without stigma or discrimination,” the Ministry stated. “Although we currently have low numbers of people living with HIV and very high compliance with treatment, the threat of more cases remains. “Cautionary stories can be seen around the world, with HIV epidemics in some countries previously decreasing, now increasing again. Progress towards global goals have been hindered by numerous factors including changes in resourcing and ongoing disparity and inequity as well as discrimination and stigma. “Despite these challenges there is hope. Persons living with HIV can access antiretroviral treatment, which is daily medication that helps control the levels of virus in the body. “There are now many years of evidence that this treatment is extremely effective and that once people living with HIV have an undetectable viral load, they cannot transmit HIV sexually. That is; Undetectable = Untransmissible.” _______________________________________________________________________ SOURCE: VANUATU DAILY POST
- New nurse graduates eager to serve December 1, 2022
Two students from the Vanuatu College of Nursing Education (VCNE) who graduated last week intend to return to their own community and provide health services, because their people need nurses. The two students are from Santo in SANMA Province. 29-year-old Margret Laban from Wusi village in West Coast Santo said she was so happy to attend VCNE as she want to help her people in her community. “When I was in my home village, I often witnessed how people suffering with health problems and I really wanted to know how to take care of them and cure their ailments,” she said. “I then had the opportunity to come to the nursing school and learn a lot of skills on how to take care of sick patients.” Ms Laban shared there has been many challenges during her years in Nursing college, in terms of finance, assignments loads in the class. However, despite the stressful situations, they managed to overcome their challenges and were academically rewarded. “The challenges we had encountered during the past three years also helped us a lot, the more they correct our failures in our workplaces or inside the classroom, the more we learn,” she said. “The challenges develop our nursing career. Most of us are looking forward to going back to our villages and overall Vanuatu, to help our people.” Lenix Vusi, a 23-year-old from Tuturu village in Big Bay, Santo, said there is lack of nursing services there. “Where I come from, there are only a few nurses,” he said. “I want to support my community in providing quality primary health care services.” Lenix started thinking about becoming a nurse when he was in Year 11, and now he is hoping to become a nurse practitioner. Evelyne Emile, VCNE’s Principal Nurse Educator, said she is proud of her students’ achievements. “However, we are living in a different time and these students were all very challenged by COVID-19,” said Ms Emile. “I was very impressed by the way they handled and responded to challenges. I wish them all the best in their nursing career.” _______________________________________________________________________ SOURCE: VANUATU DAILY POST
- Gaetan Pikioune Junior launches second book November 28, 2022
Gaetan Pikioune Junior has launched his second book titled ‘The adventures of Sean the Squirrel and Nate the Nightingale: Relatable Rangi The Roo’. The book was launched at the Read Pacific Warehouse on Wednesday afternoon. His love for helping the community and children has inspired Gaetan Pikioune Junior to write children’s books. Junior hails from Port Olry village in Santo and has maternal links to Levuka village in the district of Yale and province of Kadavu in Fiji. He is the first Ni-Vanuatu children’s book author whose personal experience got him to write this book. “I would like to thank and acknowledge the presence of every child in this room, to me this event wouldn’t be meaningful without your presence,” said Junior. “I would like to acknowledge the following children who may or may not have given me the green light to use their names in the books — Mr. Sean,Lote Tomu Sean Pikioune, Kalpokas, Mr. Kyrangi Rakau and Mr. Caleb Doan. Unfortunately, my nieces Asinate (who Nate got his name from) and Maya, could not be here as they are not in Port Vila. “I want to thank Read Pacific, especially Ms Rae, thank you for everything — sponsoring my tuition fee at Malapoa College to keeping in touch with me, until you became my publisher. “I would like to thank the Utilities Regulatory Authority (URA), my Chief Executive Officer and colleagues for their support with the book.” Junior completed Year 13 at Malapoa College and graduated from the University of the South Pacific in Fiji with a Bachelor of Commerce (Double Degree in Accounting & Economics). He said his parents are his biggest motivator. “My parents are my biggest motivator, pushing me to pursue my dreams, whether it is my career path, education, or any dreams that I have, along with my siblings and my friends,” he said. _______________________________________________________________________ SOURCE: VANUATU DAILY POST
- Big progress in mainstreaming climate policy: Waiwai November 24, 2022
The Director of Climate Change, Mike Waiwai, said the progress in mainstreaming Vanuatu’s Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction (CCDRR) Policy into other sectors is 80 to 90% so far. By 2025, Vanuatu should reach 100% climate policy mainstreaming, he said. Director Waiwai was speaking this during a side event at the Moana Blue Pacific Pavilion at COP27 in Egypt. The side event brought various directors attending COP27 to share how they have been integrating climate change in their decision-makings and policies. Waiwai said priorities of the department include improving knowledge management for climate adaptation and disaster risk reduction for communities. Director for the Women’s Department, Rothina Noka, talked about the Gender and Protection Cluster in humanitarian action since after cyclone Pam in 2015. Led by the Department of Women’s Affairs in partnership with CARE and Save the Children, the cluster ensures child protection and disability inclusion in any humanitarian response. Noka is one of the Directors attending COP27 for the first time after gender made it to the agenda at this year’s COP. She said attending the international climate conference made her realise how to address the needs of women and children under the UNFCCC mechanism. Director of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD), Antoine Ravo, identified various climate initiatives being implemented by the department. One is the development of a new climate hybrid yam that can be harvested all year round and boost security. Others include the Food Basket Project that is bringing seeds and planting materials of resilient crops to all area councils, also the establishment of Provincial Seed Centres where farmers are accessing open pollinated seeds. He said the main message to take away from the first week of COP27 is strengthening partnership for joint work on climate, and how to achieve that is through finance. Sam Armstrong from the Department of Biosecurity stressed mentioned the challenge of managing new pests driven by climate. Director of Forestry, Rexon Vira, talked about enhancing mitigation efforts in the forest sector through the REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) Project. He also mentioned the development of a deforestation database that can be used in other Pacific countries. Director of Livestock, Lonny Bong, said while the department has a target of achieving 500,000 cattle by 2025, it needs to find ways to reduce methane emissions. He said the department encourage traditional knowledge in raising livestock. ______________________________________________________________________ SOURCE: VANUATU DAILY POST
- PM wants civil servants to dress formally November 24, 2022
All civil servants are expected to dress formally for work. This is part of an instruction issued by Prime Minister Ishmael Kalsakau earlier this week. This instruction is also applicable to all political appointees. “I am instructing that all Appointees under every Ministerial portfolio and Civil servants alike are to adhere to strict Dressing code which consists of a suit and tie within official government working hours,” PM Kalsakau highlighted in a statement. “By this note, this instruction is to be taken as a new standard bearer on how our government is to better serve this nation.” This is effective for all departments under the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), and all other government line agencies are expected to follow suit, as per the instruction. Daily Post is informed that anyone entering the premises of PMO is also required to dress formally. People are being sent away from the PMO compound for not adhering to this dress code. ______________________________________________________________________ SOURCE: VANUATU DAILY POST
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