- June 20, 2025
- Posted by: humanitarianweb
- Category: Humanitarian News
Joint News Release by WHO and Vanuatu Ministry of Health
20 June 2025
Joint News Release
Port Vila, Vanuatu
Vanuatu has today concluded its first-ever Joint External Evaluation (JEE), a process that assesses a nation’s capacity to prevent, detect, and rapidly respond to public health risks including outbreaks of diseases to events such as cyclones and earthquakes. The evaluation, eighth of its kind in the Pacific island countries, began on 16 June and delivered key recommendations to enhance health security.
JEE team reviewed the country’s preparedness and response capacities under the International Health Regulations (IHR, 2005) – a legal framework that Vanuatu has been a State Party to since it came into force in 2007 – which defines countries’ rights and obligations in handling public health events and emergencies with a potential to cross borders.
With a population of just over 300 000, Vanuatu is highly vulnerable to a wide range of public health threats. In the past decade alone, the country has experienced major events including Tropical Cyclone Pam (2015), Tropical Cyclone Harold (2020), Tropical Cyclones Judy and Kevin (2023), outbreaks of influenza and leptospirosis in 2024, and most recently, a magnitude 7.3 earthquake near Port Vila in December 2024, which caused severe damage and loss of life.
“These overlapping crises highlighted the urgent need for resilient, multisectoral systems that can withstand and recover from concurrent hazards, and focus towards long-term preparedness and recovery,” said Mrs Shirley Tokon, Director General of Health, Vanuatu during her opening speech. “The JEE process has given us a clear picture of our strengths and the areas where we must invest further to protect the health of our people.”
Despite these challenges, Vanuatu has made significant strides in recent years. The country has strengthened its legislative reforms and is working to improve physical planning that incorporate hazard risks, public health surveillance, implemented effective risk communication strategies, and established a comprehensive national emergency response framework. However, continued efforts are needed to further strengthen these areas and ensure long-term resilience.
JEE brought together over 30 experts, including national counterparts and technical specialists from Australia, Japan, Romania, Italy, the United States, and the World Health Organization (WHO) to jointly review Vanuatu’s capacities in areas such as disease surveillance, laboratory systems, emergency response, points of entry and risk communication and community engagement. The mission was co-led by Dr Gina Samaan, Regional Emergency Director, WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific and by Dr Karen Sliter, Programme Officer, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
“The JEE process highlights priorities for system and capacity strengthening. We thank the national experts and the Government of Vanuatu for its commitment and engagement in IHR implementation,” said Dr Samaan.
Experts had the opportunity to visit relevant sites, including the main hospital Vila Central Hospital to see different departments including radiology and laboratory, or rural health facilities on Efate island to meet with health workers and local authorities.
The JEE team has delivered several recommendations including using the JEE findings to inform a national health security action plan, and to bring services that strengthen health security closer to populations at sub-national level, in line with the Vanuatu health sector strategy and decentralization policy. The JEE team also noted Vanuatu’s strong commitment to multisectoral collaboration, engaging teams from disaster management, environment, climate change, border agencies, internal affairs and other sectors in its approach to health security.
“Vanuatu’s successful completion of its first JEE is a major achievement and a testament to the government’s leadership and commitment to health security,” said Dr Revite Kirition, WHO Country Liaison Officer in Vanuatu. “This collaborative review provides an opportunity to align national efforts with international best practices and mobilize support for targeted improvements.”
The detailed outcomes of the JEE are expected to be published in a report in a few months, and will help Vanuatu prioritize investments and actions to build a stronger, more resilient health system capable of responding to future emergencies.
This work was made possible through the generous support of the Government of Vanuatu, the Australian Government, and the Government of Japan, through the International Organization for Migration.
Media Contacts
Ms Lenka Dojcanova
Risk Communications Officer
WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific – Division of Pacific Technical Support
Mobile: +679 777 9718
Email: dojcanoval@who.int
Ms Marama Jacob
Media Officer
Vanuatu’s Ministry of Health
Email: mjacob@vanuatu.gov.vu