Vanuatu Family Health Association

07/10/2026

Vanuatu National Health Research Symposium 2026
Theme: Reducing Cancer Burden in Vanuatu: Prevention, Treatment & Research

Day 1 | Wednesday 07 October 2026 | National University of Vanuatu (NUV) Port-Vila, Vanuatu

Session 1: Data Strengthening

This first session, the VFHA’s Cervical Cancer Elimination Project Coordinator, Dr. Mackenzie Sitobata, highlighted the importance of data in the fight to eliminate cervical cancer in Vanuatu.

Data helps us understand who we are reaching, who we are missing, where the gaps are, and how we can improve services.

Vanuatu’s cervical cancer elimination efforts are strengthened through collaboration between the Ministry of Health, VFHA, IKKANA Cancer Foundation and other partners.

Together, we are working towards the global 90–70–90 targets:

🎯 90% of girls fully vaccinated against HPV

🎯 70% of women screened

🎯 90% of women identified with cervical disease receiving appropriate treatment

Our Cervical cancer elimination project team has been using a digital registry called CanScreen Registry. Through the CanScreen digital registry, data helps identify communities that still need to be reached and supports better planning, resource allocation and decision-making.

Based on the data presented by Dr. Mackenzie, through the outreach activities conducted throughout each of the 6 provinces of Vanuatu, as of 29 September 2026, 19,683 women have been screened, reaching approximately 76% of the national screening target (25,900 women targeted).

📌 Every woman counted. Every community reached. Every data point matters.





Health Promotions Vanuatu
ik-kana Cancer Foundation
UICC - Union for International Cancer Control

PC: BREJ Pacific General Distribution Limited

07/10/2026

Long Oktoba nomo, mammogram i VT 500 nomo, i no moa VT 3,000.

Kam long Radiology long Vanuatu National Hospital blong jekem helt blong yu. Screening i save sevem laef.

Long Oktoba nomo, mammogram i VT 500 nomo, i no moa VT 3,000.

Kam long Radiology long Vanuatu National Hospital blong jekem helt blong yu. Screening i save sevem laef.

06/10/2026

🧠 HIV MYTH BUSTER

❌ MYTH: You can get HIV from hugging or shaking hands.

✅ FACT: HIV is not spread through hugging, shaking hands, sharing food, or everyday contact.

💜 Don’t believe the myths. Know the facts.

👉 Learn more, get informed and visit VFHA for free and confidential HIV testing and support.
Do it for yourself and for your loved ones. Do it FOR THEM.



IPPF Sub Regional Office for the Pacific
Health Promotions Vanuatu

05/10/2026

🇻🇺🎗️ 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐬 & 𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐥

The 𝐕𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐮 𝐅𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 (𝐕𝐅𝐇𝐀) is honoured to represent Vanuatu at the 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐢𝐧 𝐇𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐊𝐨𝐧𝐠, alongside the 𝐕𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐮 @𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡and 𝐈𝐤𝐤𝐚𝐧𝐚 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐲

With more than 2,500 participants from 120+ countries, the Congress is an important global space to strengthen partnerships, share knowledge and reinforce the need for united action against cancer.

As a proud member of the @𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐥 (𝐔𝐈𝐂𝐂), VFHA sincerely thanks UICC for supporting Vanuatu’s participation in the global cancer movement.

As a civil society organisation, VFHA has an important role in bringing global commitments closer to our communities — particularly through 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬, 𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐝𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞.

At the beginning of the Congress, VFHA joined representatives from 27 countries in the high-level workshop 𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭: 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫 𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, co-hosted by UICC, WHO, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, EPICC and UT MD Anderson Cancer Center.

🎀 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐧𝐨𝐰, 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐇𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐊𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐕𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐮 — 𝐰𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐦 𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐞.

VFHA is proud to 𝐤𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐨𝐟𝐟 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐏𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬, joining communities across Vanuatu in raising awareness about breast cancer, encouraging early detection and reminding everyone that𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐨𝐝𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐬𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬.

For Vanuatu and the Pacific, cancer control is not only a health issue. It is about 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐬, 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧.

🌸 𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐠𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 — 𝐥𝐞𝐭'𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬, 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫.
𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐏𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫, 𝐥𝐞𝐭'𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐝𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬. 🎗️🇻🇺




Health Promotions Vanuatu
ik-kana Cancer Foundation
UICC - Union for International Cancer Control

01/10/2026

🧡 HIV MYTH vs FACT

MYTH: “HIV testing is painful and complicated. They use big needles.”

FACT: HIV testing is quick, simple and confidential. Depending on the test, it may only require a small finger-prick—not a big needle.

Don’t let fear stop you from knowing your status. ❤️

📍 VFHA Port Vila Clinic
2 Rue Emile Mercet, opposite Eric Wong
🕐 Monday–Friday
8:00am–12:00pm
1:00pm–3:30pm - Client registration closes at 2:30pm.
📞 +678 7642145

Visit VFHA clinics, Vanuatu National Hospital, Northern Provincial Hospital, Santo, Vanuatu, & Wan Smolbag.

Get tested. Know your status.




IPPF Sub Regional Office for the Pacific
Health Promotions Vanuatu

01/10/2026

🎀 OCTOBER IS BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

Every story is unique. Every journey matters.

This month, we’re raising awareness about breast cancer and the importance of knowing your breast health.

-Know the signs.
-Notice changes early.
-Seek care when something feels different.
-Support someone on their journey.

Breast cancer can affect women and girls. Talking openly about breast health can help people seek care earlier.

💗 Know your health. Don't ignore changes. Talk to a health worker.

Get involved in the awareness: Be a supporter by helping in raising awareness on social media. Commit to scheduling your mammogram this year, and encourage others to do the same.

30/09/2026

Looking for affordable and confidential s*xual and reproductive health services? VFHA is here for you. 💜

Our clinics provide:
-General check-ups
-Family planning
-Antenatal care (ANC)
-HIV & STI testing
-HPV testing & cervical cancer screening
Sexual and reproductive health advice

💰 Fees: may vary depending on the services - please refer to the picture below.

🕗 Opening hours:
Monday–Friday | 8:00 AM–3:30 PM
Registration closes at 2:30 PM.

📱 +678 764 2145
WhatsApp: +678 7354674 (or Scan the QR code below)

💜 Your health matters. Get checked. Get informed. Get care.

📍 Visit your nearest VFHA clinic!

30/09/2026

🌺 𝐓𝐖𝐎 𝐖𝐄𝐄𝐊𝐒. 𝐎𝐍𝐄 𝐓𝐄𝐀𝐌. 𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐘 𝐀𝐂𝐇𝐈𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐒 𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐌 𝐕𝐅𝐇𝐀 🇻🇺

The past two weeks have been busy, inspiring and full of action for VFHA — from our communities to regional and global platforms.

𝟒𝐭𝐡 𝐏𝐀𝐂𝐈𝐅𝐈𝐂 𝐅𝐄𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐈𝐒𝐓 𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐔𝐌 – 𝐅𝐈𝐉𝐈
Our Advocacy & Communications Officer, Jessica Tracey Sese, joined 140+ Pacific feminists and young leaders from 21 countries, including Vanuatu, to strengthen collective action for human rights, equality and social justice.

𝐀𝐃𝐕𝐎𝐂𝐀𝐂𝐘 & 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐌𝐔𝐍𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒
With the lead of our Advocacy & Communications Officer and the support of our Youth officer (Anika Pascal), Youth assistant officer (Jonathan), Humanitarian Focal Point (Annie Obed), Director Programs (Kalowi Kaltapang), Executive Director (Julius Ssenabulya), and IPPF Sub Regional Office for the Pacific Communications Voice & Media Senior Officer (Krishneel Nand), we successfully delivered a 1-day Advocacy Skills Training and a 2-day IEC & BCC Review and Validation Workshop, bringing together representatives from the Ministry of Health HIV unit, Health Promotions Vanuatu (HPU), RMNCAH, and young people to strengthen accurate, inclusive and youth-friendly health messages.

𝐀𝐃𝐎𝐋𝐄𝐒𝐂𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐋𝐓𝐇 & 𝐒𝐑𝐇
Our FLE Coordinator, Anika Pascal, helped endorse new adolescent health and wellbeing micro-qualifications, reached 18 young people through a street SRH session in Port Vila, completed a 5-day ASRH in Emergencies and Crisis training in Port Moresby, and delivered FLE training for youth in Santo.

𝐐𝐔𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐘 𝐎𝐅 𝐂𝐀𝐑𝐄 (𝐐𝐨𝐂)
Our Medical Services Coordinator, Leias Obed, successfully conducted Quality of Care (QoC) assessments at our Santo and Tanna clinics, helping strengthen the quality and standard of services we provide.

𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐓𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐏𝐄𝐎𝐏𝐋𝐄 & 𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐆𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐑𝐄𝐅𝐄𝐑𝐑𝐀𝐋𝐒
Our Programs Director and Youth Assistant, Kalowi Kaltapang & Jonathan Philip, participated in the validation of the Draft Vanuatu National Referral Mechanism for Victims of Trafficking in Persons, organised by IOM Vanuatu in Port Vila.

𝐂𝐄𝐑𝐕𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐋 𝐂𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄𝐑 𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍
Our EPICC Project Coordinator, Dr. Mackenzie Sitotaba, attended the World Cancer Congress 2026 in Hong Kong, alongside the Vanuatu Ministry of Health and Ikkana Cancer Society, strengthening knowledge and partnerships towards the elimination of cervical cancer.

✨This is VFHA in action — connecting local experience with regional and global learning, and turning knowledge and partnerships into action.

This is our work. This is our collective action. 🇻🇺💜