In a coordinated effort to curb the unfold of mpox, the Government of Sierra Leone, working closely with the World Effectively being Organization (WHO), Africa CDC, WAHO and partners has deployed 36 AVoHC-SURGE responders to the country’s hotspot districts. The responders, drawn from right by just a few sectors, signify a highly effective point to of solidarity in a 2nd that demands velocity, precision, and collaboration.
The multisectoral team, comprising epidemiologists, communication consultants, and field responders from a unfold of institutions: the Ministry of Effectively being , the National Public Effectively being Company, the Sierra Leone Police, the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces, and the Ministry of Agriculture, among others. Together, they assemble a speedy-response team in a position to supporting the country’s emergency operations right by surveillance, case administration, contact tracing, vaccination, an infection prevention and withhold an eye on, and neighborhood engagement.
On the pre-deployment briefing held today in Freetown, the team appeared enraged and willing to swing into motion. The team, many of whom get served right by outdated public health emergencies, were reminded of what’s at stake.
“Here is a important time, and we’re relying on you,” acknowledged Dr George Ameh, WHO Country Representative in Sierra Leone, as he addressed the responders. “Glide to the districts and develop a real distinction. You ahve completed it sooner than, and we’re relying on you to destroy it yet again. Be fragment of the team. Be the motive issues switch. Let your actions say.”
Since confirming its first mpox case in Sierra Leone in January 2025, over 3,900 conditions were reported right by all 16 districts. The outbreak has strained health programs and requires a total-of-authorities diagram. This deployment marks a shift from reactive measures to proactive withhold an eye on, taking the response to the frontlines sooner than the virus spreads extra.
The National AvoHC SURGE Coordinator, Dr Mustapha Jalloh remarked: “ Here is the merely time for us a country to take a look at our skill and capabilities with the resources we get to respond to outbreaks “
What sets this deployment apart is every its technical skills, and the composition. By bringing together actors from civilian, health, and security sectors, the authorities is reinforcing a fundamental message: public health is all people’s industry. The militia and police will play key roles in logistics and access to far-off or excessive-possibility areas. Agricultural officers will inspire assess conceivable links to zoonotic transmission. Public health consultants will manual surveillance, testing, and scientific care.
Previous the technical responsibilities, the responders will additionally attend as depended on messengers connecting with communities to handle stigma, misinformation, and scare. They’re going to listen to issues, present merely health recordsdata, and work with neighborhood leaders to promote early reporting and care-in search of behaviour.
“We’re enraged at this probability to enhance our country, acknowledged, Mariatu, a surveillance officer heading to Bo District. “It’s private for me. Here is our country.”
The approaching weeks are serious. The success of the mission will depend not completely on coordination and skill but additionally on the resilience, compassion and dedication of these heading into the sector.
