Aidan Arugogona and Billinsly Arutoka pictured at the Fiji National University graduation ceremony. Not pictured: Yonki Lite. Photo credit: VAHP
Authors: Prisca Virelala and Jess Plummer – Vanuatu Australia Health Partnership
With support from the Australian Government, Vanuatu has three new qualified Biomedical Technicians, representing a significant boost for Vanuatu’s health workforce.
Aidan Arugogona, Billinsly Arutoka and Yonki Lite received their Certificate IV in Biomedical Engineering from Fiji National University in May and are now putting their new skills to use with year-long internships. The 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 says she is incredibly proud of the new biomedical interns for completing their training.
“This marks an important milestone in building local capacity. Biomedical technicians and engineers play a vital role in maintaining our medical equipment, ensuring our doctors, nurses, dentists, and allied health professionals have the reliable tools they need to provide safe, high-quality care,” Dr Natuman says.
“Investing in more biomedical professionals is an investment in the future of healthcare in Vanuatu”.
Graduate Yonki Lite says he enjoys working for the Ministry of Health, 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 says.
Fellow graduate Aidan Arugogona says 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 program 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 says the internship program 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,” Mr Bourke says.
As these three new biomedical technician graduates begin their careers in Vanuatu’s health system, they bring not only valuable technical expertise but also a shared commitment to strengthening hospital services and ensuring medical equipment remains reliable, safe, and available for patients across the country.
VAHP is an Australian Government initiative supporting the Government of Vanuatu’s Ministry of Health (MoH) leadership to strengthen delivery of quality health services for all people across Vanuatu. VAHP encourages effective collaboration across MoH units at the national and provincial levels, while building momentum for locally led health sector reform at the leadership, technical, and corporate levels.
For more on the Vanuatu Australia Health Partnership.
