Doctors at Vanuatu National Hospital say almost half of child deaths in the country are linked to complications around pregnancy and birth.
Speaking during a panel discussion on maternal and child health , Dr. Walesi Natuman, a paediatrician at VNH, said perinatal disorders remain the leading cause of death for children under five in Vanuatu (45%), followed by malaria, diarrhoea, and pneumonia (27%). This is according to national mortality estimates published by BioMed Central.
“Improving access to good prenatal and newborn care, along with better maternal health services, can save many lives,” Dr. Natuman said.
The same BioMed Central study shows that for adults aged 15–59 years, the main causes of male deaths are circulatory diseases (27%), cancer (13%), injuries (13%), liver disease (10%), infections (10%), diabetes (7%), and chronic respiratory diseases (7%). For females, the main causes are cancer (29%), circulatory diseases (15%), diabetes (10%), infections (9%), and maternal deaths (8%). Infections include tuberculosis, malaria, and viral hepatitis.
The data also reveal that liver disease accounts for 18% of adult male deaths and 9% of female deaths, while non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as circulatory disease, diabetes, cancer, and chronic respiratory disease cause 52% of premature deaths in men and 60% in women. Maternal deaths remain high, with a maternal mortality ratio of 130 per 100,000 live births.
Dr. Natuman said Vanuatu faces a “double burden of disease” high child deaths from preventable conditions, along with increasing adult deaths from NCDs and maternal causes. She urged the government to strengthen healthcare services and ensure mothers and children in rural areas have access to life-saving care.
📖 Source: BioMed Central – Burden of Disease Estimates for Vanuatu.
