The First Developmental Paediatrics Trip to Port Vila, Vanuatu

Dr Eta Raicebe

The first Developmental Paediatrics trip to Port Vila, Vanuatu was held between the 22nd to 29th June, 2024 initiated by PPA member country, Vanuatu and supported by Pacific Paediatric Association and The South Pacific Community (SPC). It was led by Dr. Eta Raicebe, a Fijian Developmental Paediatrician working in Gold Coast, Australia and an associate member of PPA .

The trip aimed to conduct developmental paediatric clinics, provide teaching sessions on neurodevelopmental conditions, and develop a framework for managing children and young people with neurodevelopmental concerns. Activities included reviewing 11 paediatric cases with a member of the local Paediatric team primarily and creating individualised management plans.

Other activities included sharing a standardised clinic template and incorporating tools such as growth charts and autism rating scales which are currently used in Fiji. Collaborative efforts with the Vanuatu Society for People with Disabilities (VSPD) strengthened ties between VSPD and the Paediatric department at Vila Central Hospital, fostering collaboration with shared clients like and potential teaching opportunities. There were education sessions provided to the Paediatric team and wider clinical teams at Vila Central with topics covered including the neurobiology of early development, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and Global Developmental Delay.

Key outcomes included immediate improvements in clinical processes and management plans, as well as long-term recommendations for ongoing training, cultural adaptation of assessment tools, and expanded roles for allied health professionals. The visit successfully enhanced capacity-building, strengthened local healthcare partnerships, and set the stage for more robust developmental paediatric services in Vanuatu. Tankiu tumas PPA and SPC for making this trip possible!