Freetown, Sierra Leone – Today in Freetown, the World Neatly being Organization (WHO) organized a excessive-stage meeting to share update on the mpox situation in Sierra Leone and handle pressing gaps. Initiated at the ask of the Diplomatic Corps, the meeting modified into chaired by Ambassador Jens Kraus-Mass, Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, and brought together 20 key stakeholders, together with Honourable Minister of Neatly being, Dr Austin Demby, the Head of the National Public Neatly being Agency (NPHA), Prof Foday Sahr, ECOWAS representatives, other ambassadors and partners.
The engagement supplied a comprehensive overview of the national response and reinforced coordination and resource mobilization efforts.
Sierra Leone confirmed its first mpox case on 10 January 2025, tracing symptom onset in the index affected person to December 2024. Since then, the outbreak has unfold across all 16 districts, with 3,922 confirmed cases as of 9 June 2025.
Within the final three weeks, a total of 1,168 unusual confirmed cases have faith been reported, reflecting a downward building. Whereas this is encouraging, essential steps ought to be taken to toughen surveillance and contact tracing, IPC in properties and institutions, while declaring continuity of essential healthcare.
In his remarks, the honourable Minister of Neatly being, Dr Austin Demby expressed gratitude for the collaborative efforts: “Thank you to WHO and partners for listening to and supporting us. We are grateful for your solidarity. Adding further, that “this was a learning opportunity, but we will use it to build capacity and strengthen our institution. Let everything we do be backed up by data and science, not speculation.”
At the onset of the outbreak, Sierra Leone faced restricted diagnostic potential, surveillance infrastructure gaps, and shortages in infection, prevention and control (IPC) materials. Neighborhood concern and misinformation hindered early reporting. Nonetheless, with strong coordination by the NPHA, with toughen from WHO and partners, primary development has been made.
Trying out potential has improved at the national and sub-national stages. Healthcare staff and excessive-probability teams have faith acquired vaccinations and expanded neighborhood engagement actions have faith helped tackle stigma and promote early care-on the lookout for, as smartly being staff have faith undergone mpox case administration and IPC practising.
Ambassador Jens Kraus-Mass, Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, emphasized the importance of collaboration: “We are grateful for this comprehensive brief. We will prioritize our support and help identify potential gaps. We are rethinking our approach to see how we can support this response more effectively.”
Key well-liked needs embrace funding for active surveillance, genomic sequencing, as smartly as gaps in IPC supplies, case administration potential, and psychosocial toughen.
With out sustained investment, excessive components, such because the ongoing interventions in neighborhood engagement, deployment of hastily response teams, and logistics toughen techniques probability being disrupted.
WHO Country Consultant, Dr George Ameh underscored the urgency of continued efforts: “The next three weeks are crucial to maintain momentum. We must keep our eyes on all districts to avoid losing the gains we have made.”
The outbreak continues to primarily have faith an impact on young adults mature 20–39, with a primary concentration among females mature 20–29. These patterns point out doable links to social behaviour and mobility patterns, requiring deeper evaluation and centered interventions.
Today’s meeting highlights the importance of joint coordination and launch dialogue in managing outbreaks. Sierra Leone’s mpox response has demonstrated determination and adaptableness, and ongoing toughen shall be excessive in halting transmission, retaining lives, and combating future outbreaks.
