Overview

This page provides an overview of how Australia is working in partnership with Vanuatu to deliver support against the Health Security pillar of Partnerships for Recovery. It outlines key related initiatives and provides summaries of programming and related documents.

Australia is working with the Vanuatu Government to improve access to resilient, quality, essential health services with a focus on workforce development and primary care. Vanuatu’s COVID-19 Health Sector Preparedness and Response Plan outlines the need to balance support for preparedness response with the Government’s ongoing priorities of strengthening national health systems and service delivery. As Vanuatu’s largest health sector partner, we have re-focused our support to help Vanuatu deliver these priorities. Australia pivoted our health program, to respond to COVID-19 and is the largest provider of end-to-end support to Vanuatu’s national COVID-19 vaccine rollout.

Vanuatu Health Program

$15 million, 2019 – 2022

The Vanuatu Health Program (VHP) supports the Vanuatu Ministry of Health (MoH) to improve its delivery of equitable, accessible and better-quality essential health services at national, provincial and local level. This is done through capacity building, strengthened accountability and continuous improvements to Vanuatu's health sector. In 2021-22, VHP activities were refocused to support MoH's efforts to prevent the importation of COVID-19 into Vanuatu, and to prepare for a potential outbreak including managing associated community transmissions and subsequently responding to its first community outbreak. VHP has also provided support for medical teams working in Tropical Cyclone Harold affected areas.

Key outcomes for this program:

• MoH senior staff lead continuous improvement and strengthened accountability of the Vanuatu health sector; and
• MoH corporate services,  public health and clinic services staff increase delivery of equitable, accessible and better-quality essential health services.

Related documents