ROYAL AUSTRALASIAN COLLEGE OF SURGEONS
MEDIA RELEASE
Is a Paediatric Surgical Service In Vanuatu Sustainable?
Monday 6 May, 2013
Delegates to the 82nd Annual Scientific Congress (ASC) of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons have been told of
the local and external challenges that must be overcome if the Pacific island nation of Vanuatu is to develop and
sustain a paediatric surgical service.
Dr Basil Leodoro, a general surgeon from Vanuatu, told the ASC’s international forum that infant mortality rates had
fallen in Vanuatu from 141/1000,000 in 1960 to 34/100,000 in 2002, mostly due to early diagnosis and treatment of
infectious diseases as well as improved public health measures and maternal education.
“Whilst primary care and preventative measures have been around for decades, specialist paediatric surgical services
have only been made available in Vanuatu since 2010 under the Pacifc Island Program (PIP) funded by AusAID,” Dr Leodoro
said.
“As in most of the small Pacific island nations, this program illustrates the importance of partnerships in providing
specialised surgical services and its long term goals have been to assist Vanuatu in becoming self-reliant.
“From a local perspective, questions must be raised as to how independent Vanuatu can become in sustaining a specialised
surgical service, given the local and external challenges that must be overcome.
These include delayed presentation of patients with paediatric surgical disease, a shortage of medical resources and
staffing, limited funds for investigation, assessment and management of paediatric surgical cases and a need for
specialist paediatric surgical training of surgeons, anaesthetists and nursing staff.
Political instability also affects the support needed from a governance and leadership point of view.
“Having said that, some of the solutions to these problems may not be as remote as one might assume. For example, there
are well established ties with the College, PIP teams, regional Consultants and donors who regularly assist local
surgeons in both a clinical and training capacity. From the community level up to the tertiary care level there is a
focus on supporting paediatric surgical patients and their families. These efforts and relationships must be sustained
and fostered.” Dr Leodoro said his presentation to the international forum was an opportunity for creative discussion of
the problems facing clinicians and their patients not just in Vanuatu but in all smaller Pacific island nations.
Approximately 1200 surgeons from New Zealand, Australia and around the world are attending the ASC, which runs from 6 to
10 May and is being held at Auckland’s Skycity/Crowne Plaza Convention Centre.
ENDS