Australia and Respond Global partner to provide health support to remote communities

This week, the Governments of Vanuatu and Australia celebrated the launch of the Australia – Respond Global partnership, which will provide further support to the HELPR-1 vessel in 2025.

Australia is providing AUD 2.5 million to support HELPR-1’s operations until June 2026. The additional funding will support HELPR-1 to continue its work to support the Government of Vanuatu to deliver decentralised services to communities around Vanuatu and provide vital medical outreach to remote communities.

Equipped with a medical team onboard, HELPR-1 conducts routine medical checks and treatments, childhood immunisations, maternal and reproductive health checks, and communicable and non-communicable disease treatments to communities they visit. HELPR-1 also facilitates clinicians from Vila Central Hospital (VCH) to provide specialist support to communities.

Since it began operations, HELPR-1 has provided direct healthcare services to over 180,000 people across Vanuatu.

Speaking at the event, the Australian High Commissioner, His Excellency Max Willis said, “Australia’s partnership with Respond Global recognises HELPR-1’s important role in improving the lives of people across Vanuatu.”

He acknowledged the challenges with Vanuatu’s dispersed geography which impacts service delivery. “HELPR-1’s ability to reach remote communities brings health and government services to people who otherwise wouldn’t have access.”

At the event, Minister of Health, Hon John Still Tari Qetu said, “I would like to thank Australia for responding to my request to support HELPR-1 in Vanuatu, recognising the unique and important role that HELPR-1 plays in health service delivery to remote communities.”

The High Commissioner also announced that Australia will provide AUD 1.5 million in further funding to support Vanuatu’s implementation of the National Energy Roadmap 2016-2030, by re-electrifying remote community facilities with renewable energy. Under the REnew Pacific program, HELPR-1 will facilitate the repairs and installation of equipment and renewable energy systems in 40 health facilities in Vanuatu.

Respond Global’s Managing Director and founder of the HELPR-1 program, Dr. Ian Norton, said, “We thank the Government of Australia and particularly the Australian High Commission in Port Vila for their support of HELPR-1. We are proud the ship is registered and permanently based in Vanuatu, and this is made possible through Australian support”.

Director of HELPR-1 Operations in Vanuatu, Dr. Basil Leodoro, said, “The partnership between Australia and Vanuatu has been crucial in strengthening our heath sector for decades. This support for HELPR-1 ensures that our operations, our crew, and our project teams continue to strengthen health systems around the country and support provincial and national teams, as well as NGO partners, to efficiently deliver much needed services and activities to the doorstep of our people in the most rural areas. It is through these partnerships that we make an impact in the lives of ni-Vanuatu families.”

Image and video courtesy of the Australian High Commission, Vanuatu.