Ministry of Health

MOH stated that the 7 nurses will then train the Village Health workers to upskill their knowledge on Caring for Sick Children in the Community.

The training is in line with the RAMNCAH Policy and Implementation Strategy 2017-2020 which outlines the country’s strategic approaches to improving health outcomes for children and meeting its targets of reducing the child mortality rate to less than 25 per 1000 live births per year and to also reduce stunting by 20%.

The training helped to identify early signs of stunting and serious illness in a sick child up to 5 years.

Reports from the National TB Programme indicate that cases are often presenting quite late to healthcare facilities. The survey uses data for the past five years to identify the two area councils within each province that have the highest number of cases reported.

The Survey aims to understand the best way to share information, as well as understand barriers to seeking medical care. This information will be used to inform the work of the National and Provincial TB programme.

The training was done by the Ministry of Health with the assistance of World Health Organisation to local health staff.

A statement said, “This programme will be implemented in all six provinces to assist and counsel smokers to quit and improve on their health status.”

The oxygen plant has the capacity to produce over 500,000 litres of medicinal oxygen within 24 hours, able to fill a total of 74 6800-litre oxygen cylinders.

This means that in a day, approximately 25 critical COVID-19 patients can be supported with non-stop medicinal oxygen.

The oxygen plant was inaugurated in a ceremonial handover led by the Minister of Health, Rick Tchamako Mahe, Ambassador and Head of Delegation of the European Union for the Pacific, Sujiro Seam, and WHO Vanuatu Country Officer-in-Charge Dr. Philippe Guyant yesterday.

The Ministry of Health said the death toll has increased to five so far this year.

Three people died in Santo, one fatal case is from Erromango and the other is from Efate.

The MOH said two deaths were clinically diagnosed and three were laboratory confirmed.

Two new cases from Santo and Malekula were reported recently.

A total of 40 cases have been reported in the country since January this year.

Kalskau was spotted cutting the grass alongside Health Minister, Rick Tchamako Mahe at the premises on Wednesday- 25 January.

The clean-up campaign was initiated by Mahe and the Prime Minister’s team stepped in to help out.

The ministry is planning the same initiative for the country’s main hospital.

The Daily Post Newspaper says health minister Rick Tchmako Mahe intervened following concerns that a frustrated politician used abusive language and threatened the staff of Vila Central Hospital, after arriving with a very sick relative.

The staff of on duty allegedly ignored him and the patient while treating another patient.

However, the Health Minister's intervention prompted the unnamed politician to apologise to the staff.

Minister Mahe reminds all patients and relatives to show respect for the medical staff of all institutions.

The ministry of health has confirmed that majority of the total cases are from SANMA and SHEFA Provinces. Nine have been hospitalized.

MOH also confirmed that over 400 cases have been recorded alone this month.

MOH has released a statement saying “Immunization is the most effective measure against influenza. People who are at high risk, including those with underlying medical condition and those who are 55 years old and above are encouraged to receive an influenza vaccine.”

The minister had been fined $US2,500 and ordered to do 120 hours of community work after pleading guilty to three charges of actions that endangered the safety of a passenger in an aircraft.

He was fined an additional $US430 for boarding an aircraft at Pekoa Airport on Santo while intoxicated.

Both the president and the minister hail from the island of Ambrym.

Last year, Tallis pardoned the criminal convictions of three former prime ministers, Charlot Salwai, Joe Natuman, and Serge Vohor.

Tallis, who is a pastor, will end his term in office this month.

The Acting Minister of Health, James Bule received the keys of the trucks during a handing over ceremony at the Ministry of Health office in Port Vila on Monday.

Bule said the ministry valued the support to improve and strengthen Vanuatu's Health System.

The trucks will help address transportation issues for vaccination campaigns and delivery.

It will also expand support efficiency of other services such as bed net deliveries to communities.