The theme of the 2023 Health Research Symposium is Health and Disaster – Response, Recovery and Resilience. It will be held in Port Vila from 12 to 13 of October 2023.
Program
The 2023 Health Research Symposium included plenary addresses, oral presentations and poster sessions on clinical and public health and nursing. The final report including program and presentation abstracts as well as actionable recommendations is available.
Thursday, 12 October 2023
Start time Description
08:00 AM – 08:30 AM Registrations
08:30 AM – 08:40 AM Arrival of invited guests
08:40 AM – 08:50 AM Opening and dedication prayer
08:50 AM – 09:00 AM Welcome remarks from VMDA Chair * Dr Annette Garae
09:00 AM – 09:15 AM Speech by Minister of Health * Honourable John Still Tari Qetu
09:15 AM – 09:20 AM Group photo
09:20 AM – 09:50 AM Morning tea and poster session
09:50 AM – 10:05 AM Keynote speaker
10:05 AM – 11:05 AM Plenary (panel): Disaster response reflections after Cyclones Judy and Kevin
11:05 AM – 11:35 AM Research 4 Life – access to scientific publications
12:00 PM – 01:00 PM Lunch
01:00 PM – 02:30 PM
Abstract session 1: Disaster response
Kali Ameara * Addressing Malnutrition in Post-Disaster Vanuatu: The Pikinini Pawa Biskit Initiative
Jimmy Obed * Navigating Cyclones and Crises: A cross-sectional observation on Mental Health
Screening at nursing triage using K-10 post TC Judy & TC Kevin.
Sael Fred * Optimizing the Roles of Village Health Workers in Vanuatu: A Case Study
Beverlyn Tosiro * Research Study on physical and mental impact of Displacement due to Ambae
Manaro Vui Volcano Eruption
Sale Tamata Vurobaravu * The Use Of Technology In Clinical Service Delivery During Natural
Disasters. An Endoscopy Case Study At Vila Central Hospital, 2023.
Maeckely Tamata * Understanding Malnutrition in Tanna after cyclone Judy and Kevin: A Cross
Sectional Survey
02:30 PM – 03:00 PM Afternoon tea and poster session
03:00 PM – 04:30 PM
Abstract session 2: Clinical medicine
Margaret Lehi * A Situational Analysis of Surgical Care Capacity in Vanuatu
Watson Toroi * Antimicrobial resistance of blood culture isolates from patients attending Goroka
Provincial Hospital, Papua New Guinea
Obert Sam * Baseline Antimicrobial Use Point Prevalence Survey at Goroka Provincial Hospital in
Papua New Guinea: Findings and Implications
Gilson Fangaria * Descriptive Analysis of Surgical Site Infections Following Caesarean Sections in a
One- Year Period at Vila Central Hospital.
Minado Paul * Outcomes of ventilated Guillain Barre Syndrome (GBS) patients at Vila Central
Hospital intensive care unit (ICU)-An experience from a tertiary hospital in Vanuatu.
Emma Kalterikia * Short term clinical outcome of Peritoneal dialysis patients at Vila Central
Hospital: A Retrospective Cohort study.
Friday, 13 October 2023
Start time Description
08:00 AM – 08:30 AM Reflections
08:30 AM – 09:45 AM
Abstract session 3: Tropical medicine and health
Leila Bell * Cross sectional analysis of knowledge about tuberculosis among previous tuberculosis
cases and contacts in high-incidence areas of Vanuatu, 2023
Annie Dori * Strengthening vector-bone disease surveillance and utilisation of data for decision
making in Papua New Guinea
Kevin Carter * Tubercolosis in Tanna: A Cross Sectional Survey From January To September of 2023
09:45 AM – 10:45 AM
Abstract session 4: One health
Daniel Kelly * Challenges and opportunities in promoting the rational use of antimicrobials in
animal health sector in Papua New Guinea.
Nomin-Dora Tenakanai * Drug sensitive and resistant tuberculosis and zoonotic infections as
causes of lymphadenitis, Papua New Guinea
Joanne Mariasua * Investigating Leptospirosis on Efate Island in 2023 through a One Health
approach
Saravine Matan * Targeted sero-surveillance for infectious zoonoses in cattle
10:45 AM – 11:15 AM Morning tea and poster session
11:15 AM – 12:30 PM
Abstract session 5: Vulnerable populations
Rubby Leiwia Dick * Hepatitis B testing coverage at Vila Central Hospital laboratory among
pregnant women attending antenatal clinics, Efate, 2018 – 2021
Rex Turi * Maternal nutrition and birth outcomes in Efate Vanuatu: A preliminary crosssectional analysis
Allison Coleman * No more Leaks – Innovative ways to manage incontinence during and after a
disaster.
Chelsea Huggett * Progress and opportunities: menstrual health policy, service delivery and
evidence in East Asia Pacific and Vanuatu
Tracey Symmons * Disaster Response and Recovery: Rehabilitation has an key role elsewhere,
can we do more in Vanuatu ?
12:15 PM – 12:45 PM Lunch
12:45 PM – 01:30 PM Consultation about the priority research agenda
01:30 PM – 03:00 PM Debate: Is a health commission needed in Vanuatu?
03:00 PM – 03:30 PM Reflections, evaluation, closing remarks and recommendations
03:30 PM – 04:00 PM Afternoon tea and poster session
06:00 PM – 10:00 PM Conference Dinner and Awards Night
