The humid air hung heavy as Leipakoa Alick stepped into the waiting room of the Vanuatu Family Association Clinic, where a noisy ceiling fan offered some relief from the heat. At 27, she carried herself with a quiet confidence that belied the tumultuous journey she had navigated as a teenage mother. The memory of that first pregnancy, a terrifying experience at just 18, still lingered. The emergency contraceptive pill had failed, leaving her stranded in fear and uncertainty.
"I was so young," Leipakoa recalled, her voice soft yet firm, "and I had no idea what to do. In our culture, we don't talk about these things openly. Sex, contraception –it's all taboo."
That lack of awareness came at a high price. Her dreams of pursuing a career were abruptly put on hold, replaced by the daunting realities of motherhood. Raising a child while still a child herself presented a unique set of challenges. Yet, Leipakoa persevered, her love for her child fueling her determination.
Years later, the clinic represented a different path. Leipakoa was no longer a scared teenager, but a woman in control of her future. She was listening patiently to the nurse explaining to her a variety of contraceptive options – pills, injections, implants – a stark contrast to the limited information available during her youth.
"Things are different now," she acknowledged with a hopeful smile. "There's more awareness about family planning, and women are encouraged to make informed choices."
Leipakoa's journey reflects a gradual shift in Vanuatu's social landscape. While traditional taboos persist, organizations like the Vanuatu Family Health Association are working tirelessly to break down barriers and empower women with correct information to choose from a range of contraceptives.
According to the available data, 22% per-cent of women in Vanuatu have an “unmet need for family planning” implying they want to delay pregnancy or do not want to get pregnant ever, but they are not using any contraception.
To address this critical need, UNFPA with support from the Australian Government is collaborating with government and civil society partners to train midwives, nurses, and doctors in Vanuatu to deliver high-quality family planning counseling and services for women, adolescents, and people with disabilities. To date, 60 healthcare workers from 47 public health facilities across the country have received the UNFPA training equipping them with knowledge and skills to provide family planning counseling and services to young women like Leipakoa.
As Leipakoa left the nurse's office, she carried with her not just the weight of her past, but the promise of a future where unplanned pregnancies wouldn't derail the dreams of young girls. Her story serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of accessible family planning services and open conversations about reproductive health, especially in societies where silence can have life-altering consequences.
