Stories > Supporting children in Tuvalu

“And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” – Hebrews 13:16

Through a partnership between government ministries, local organisations and cbm, a school-based screening initiative was delivered on the main island of Funafuti to address this gap.

Over the course of one week, more than 1,000 primary school children received vision and hearing screenings. As a result, 139 students were identified for further assessment and treatment.

Many of these conditions had previously gone unnoticed. Some children were struggling to see the board or hear their teachers, while others were living with untreated conditions such as astigmatism or impacted ear health. In one case, a nurse involved in the programme discovered her own child had a vision impairment that had not been identified before.

By identifying these needs early, children can be referred for appropriate care – helping to improve their learning, confidence and overall wellbeing.

An important part of the initiative was building local capacity. Skills and knowledge were shared with local health workers, enabling them to continue screenings across the outer islands. This supports longer-term planning and ensures more children can access care in the future.

This work reflects the importance of accessible, locally led services in small island contexts. By strengthening systems and reaching children early, cbm and its partners are helping ensure children in Tuvalu can see well, hear well, and learn well – giving them a stronger foundation for their future.