Vanuatu – Planem Gud Famili Blong Yumi project
-
The Planem Gud Famili Blong Yumi (PGFBY) project aims to reduce unplanned pregnancies and STIs among Ni-Vanuatu in several rural regions of Vanuatu. The project is implemented in partnership with the Vanuatu Family Health Association (VFHA), and co-funded by New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Sexual Wellbeing Aotearoa.
-
The PGFBY project, now in its third phase, aims to reduce unplanned pregnancies and STIs among Ni-Vanuatu in several rural regions of Northern Vanuatu: Southwest Santo, Central Pentecost, Ambae, Maewo, Urebarabara, and Mere Lava. It also continues to provide clinical outreach services to select Phase two sites.
-
-
About Vanuatu Family Health Association (VFHA)
-
The Vanuatu Family Health Association (VFHA) is the primary provider and promoter of sexual and reproductive health and rights in Vanuatu. Established in 1990 as a small family clinic, it has since grown to four clinics across Vanuatu, and expanded its services to include education and humanitarian programmes. It's a fully accredited member association of the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF).
Vanuatu has relatively high fertility rates, though this has been declining in recent decades. Many forms of contraception are available in Vanuatu, but social stigma, myths, and misinformation about contraceptive methods, and conflicting views of the role of contraception within traditional cultural beliefs are barriers to access for many people. People living in rural locations often face more of these barriers than people living in urban areas, and teenage pregnancies are more common in rural locations.
-
-
Phase three (March 2024–February 2027)
-
Sexual and reproductive health session in Lolovoli, South Ambae
-
The project delivers a range of activities aiming to improve sexual and reproductive health and rights. The third phase focuses on:
Delivering non-clinical training programmes to Village Health Workers (VHWs) to increase their understanding of sexual and reproductive health rights, and issues in their communities
Delivering sexual health outreach clinics in rural communities to provide sexual and reproductive health services and information
Providing educational training to youth through schools, and youth centres to increase their awareness and knowledge of sexual and reproductive health
Advocating for increased support for sexual and reproductive health activities in Vanuatu through training and upskilling VFHA staff, and meeting with government officials and community leaders
Researching the current state of sexual and reproductive health in Vanuatu to ensure the project can respond appropriately
Providing sexual and reproductive health information in an inclusive and accessible way to communities through a radio drama, and through an increase in accessible information for people with disabilities
“Before this session, I didn’t know anything about STIs. Now I understand how they are passed from one person to another, and I can recognize the signs. I thought only women get STIs. But I’ve learned that it affects both of us. We all need to take care of our health. I’m going to tell my friends about what I’ve learned. Most of them don’t know this stuff either, and it’s important. If more of us knew about this earlier, we could avoid a lot of problems. I hope we can have more sessions like this.”
– Lari, SRH youth education session participant -
About phase three
March 2024–February 2027
Outreach/project sites: Southwest Santo, Central Pentecost 2, Big Bay Coastal, South Ambae, East Maewo, Mere Lava/Urebarabara
Research report published on barriers to SRH services faced by young people in Penama
424 youth attended SRH education sessions
6,290 client appointments for SRH services (10,971 clients seen in total)
1,481 individuals reached through awareness-raising events
2 workshops for VHWs to improve SRH education and services
-
Youth volunteer training, June 2025
-
Men and boys session, Urebarabara, May 2025
-
-
Phase one and two (April 2018–May 2020, and June 2020–December 2023)
-
A mother and child at an appointment with a nurse during an outreach clinic in South Ambae.
-
Phases one and two of the PGFBY project took place between 2018 and 2023. The below shows some of their accomplishments that built the foundation for phase three.
-
About phase one
April 2018–May 2020
Outreach/project sites: North Santo, Torres, Gaua, and South Pentecost
1,452 clients attended outreach clinics
4,773 individuals attended SRHR awareness-raising workshops
25 community leaders attended SRHR workshops
2 clinical trainings provided to 14 VFHA and MoH clinicians
Research report published on knowledge, access and barriers to family planning in rural Vanuatu
About phase two
June 2020–December 2023
Outreach/project sites: North Santo, Torres, Gaua, and South Pentecost
3,517 SRH appointments at outreach clinics
5,077 individuals attended SRHR awareness-raising workshops
Support to Ministry of Health to deliver COVID-19 health information and rapid antigen testing
Advocacy video created about the PGFBY project
-
-
“Many people think it’s good to space their children now. Because mothers don’t have too many children their children are healthier. Before when there were lots of children, both mothers and children were less healthy. It also put a lot of pressure on mothers to care for so many children and also worry about school fees.”
Chief, Big Bay Bush, October 2023
-
The project team briefing the Area Council in South Ambae prior to an outreach clinic.
-
-
-
Our other international work
International research
We work with our in-country partners to quantitative and qualitative research on sexual and reproductive health.
Kiribati — Healthy Families
The Healthy Families project aims to reduce STIs, and unintended pregnancies on certain islands of Kiribati.
Pacific countries - Niu Vaka II Strategy