With support from the Australian Government, Vanuatu has three newly qualified biomedical technicians, representing a boost to the country’s health workforce.
Aidan Arugogona, Billinsly Arutoka and Yonki Lite received their Certificate IV in Biomedical Engineering from Fiji National University (FNU) in May and are now putting their new skills to use through year-long internships.
Australian Government funding through the Vanuatu Australia Health Partnership (VAHP) allows biomedical technicians to travel to provincial hospitals to provide biomedical services.
Ministry of Health (MoH) Director of Curative & Hospital Services Dr Sereana Natuman said she was incredibly proud of the three biomedical interns for completing their training.
Dr Natuman said this marked an important milestone in building local capacity.
She said biomedical technicians and engineers play a vital role in maintaining medical equipment, ensuring doctors, nurses, dentists and allied health professionals have the reliable tools they need to provide safe and high-quality care.
“Investing in more biomedical professionals is an investment in the future of healthcare in Vanuatu,” Dr Natuman said.
Graduate Lite said he enjoys working for the MoH, especially travelling to the outer islands on provincial hospital visits and learning new skills.
“Undertaking the Biomedical Certificate IV in Fiji has really helped me understand what it takes to be an effective Biomed working in the Pacific,” Mr. Lite said.
Fellow graduate Arugogona said servicing medical devices to maintain their performance is extremely important for a functional healthcare system.
Mr. Arugogona expressed his hope that, as the new Biomedical Department continues to develop, it will expand its workforce to include more technicians and engineers who can support the maintenance of medical devices across the country, rather than being concentrated solely in Port Vila.
The three graduates are now undertaking a year-long internship programme supported by VAHP, with Aidan and Yonki at Vanuatu National Hospital (VNH) under the supervision of Australian Biomedical Engineer Mitchell Bourke and Senior Biomedical Technician Joel Siri.
Billinsly is based at the Northern Provincial Hospital (NPH) under the supervision of Senior Biomedical Technician Oswald Malisa.
Mr. Bourke said the internship programme is designed to complement the graduates’ biomedical studies by providing them with hands-on experience in a vast array of healthcare environments, including clinical departments such as Radiology, Laboratory, Intensive Care Unit and the Emergency Department.
“This program supports graduates in developing practical technical competencies, professional workplace skills, and a deeper understanding of biomedical practices while learning on the job under experienced supervision,” he said.
As the three biomedical technicians begin their careers in Vanuatu’s health system, they bring valuable technical expertise and a shared commitment to strengthening hospital services and ensuring medical equipment remains reliable, safe and available for patients across the country.
Original source: vu