By Foday Moriba Conteh

The Ministry of Health, through its Communications Unit, concluded a national panel discourse on the Mpox response on Thursday, August 14, 2025, at the Atlantic Hotel, Lumley Beach Road in Freetown.

Dr. Austin Hinga Demby, Minister of Health, announced that the Government of Sierra Leone, under President Julius Maada Bio, has invested $1.7 million to support the national response to the Mpox outbreak. He emphasized that while health partners have provided essential support, the Government has been the primary financier of the fight against the virus, which continues to challenge both developing and developed countries worldwide. Despite global financial constraints, the Bio administration remains committed to curbing the spread of Mpox.

Minister Austin Demby reported significant progress, with active cases decreasing from over 2,000 at the onset of the outbreak to just over 80 cases currently being managed in holding centers across the country. He credited this achievement to the Government's timely intervention and the establishment of robust Mpox Response Management Teams nationwide. The $1.7 million allocation has funded immediate response efforts and provided essential equipment for health teams. Additionally, public engagement surveys have been conducted to gauge citizens' perceptions and gather input for strengthening the fight against Mpox.

The Minister urged Sierra Leoneans to remain vigilant by reporting suspected cases early and cooperating with health authorities, assuring survivors of continued care and support.

Brigadier General Professor Foday Sahr, Executive Director of the National Public Health Agency (NPHA) announced that Sierra Leone’s Mpox outbreak is showing a steady decline following months of intensive national response. He recalled that Sierra Leone detected its first Mpox case on January 10, 2025 and within days declared a public health emergency. By mid-May, the country was recording triple-digit daily cases with nearly 2,000 confirmed infections. Sequencing later revealed the virus had mutated into a more transmissible strain.

To tackle the surge, the NPHA rolled out a second Incident Action Plan in May, which included expanding bed capacity from fewer than 100 to more than 700, intensifying community engagement, scaling up testing to 10 laboratories nationwide and introducing local genetic sequencing. Vaccination campaigns reached over 150,000 people, including healthcare workers and high-risk contacts.

By July, cases dropped from daily triple-digit figures to single digits, despite intensified case-finding operations. The current Enhanced Integrated Response Strategy now prioritizes community-led surveillance at the chiefdom and zonal levels.

As of August 14, Sierra Leone has recorded 5,132 confirmed cases, 4,997 recoveries, 51 deaths, and 84 active cases. The majority of cases are among young adults aged 20–39, with mounting evidence pointing to sexual transmission as a significant driver of spread. Looking ahead, the NPHA pledged to sustain community engagement, ensure all cases are moved to health facilities for treatment, strengthen surveillance systems, and coordinate with neighboring countries to prevent cross-border transmission.

Professor Sahr emphasized the goal of zero cases, stating, “With strong community participation, vaccination, and vigilant surveillance, Sierra Leone will overcome this outbreak.”

Dr. Thompson Igbu, Cluster Lead for Communicable and Non-Communicable Diseases at the World Health Organization (WHO), emphasized the global and regional context of the outbreak. He noted that while Mpox was declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern by WHO in 2022, the virus has since evolved, with increased transmission across Africa and beyond. Dr. Igbu commended the Sierra Leonean government for its decisive actions, including the declaration of a national emergency in January 2025. He highlighted the collaborative efforts between WHO and the Ministry of Health, as well as partnerships with organizations such as UNICEF, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), among others. These partnerships have been instrumental in providing technical, financial, and logistical support to combat the outbreak.

A key component of the response has been the vaccination campaign. Dr. Igbu reported that WHO, in collaboration with partners, has facilitated the delivery of approximately 230,000 doses of Mpox vaccine to Sierra Leone. Despite challenges in vaccine supply, including a donation of 75,000 doses from the Democratic Republic of Congo, efforts continue to ensure adequate coverage.

Looking ahead, Dr. Igbu stressed the importance of sustained vigilance and community engagement. He called on all stakeholders, including health workers, community leaders, and international partners, to intensify efforts to achieve zero new cases. "Together, we can ensure that the Mpox response leaves Sierra Leone with a stronger and more resilient health system," he concluded.

Following the opening statements, a panel discussion titled “National Panel Discourse on Mpox Response in Sierra Leone” was held, moderated by BBC journalist Umaru Fofanah. The panel included Minister of Health Dr. Austin Demby, Brigadier General Professor Foday Sahr, Executive Director of the National Public Health Agency (NPHA), Alhaji Manika Kamara, President of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ), a nurse involved in the response efforts, and an Mpox survivor sharing personal experiences. This discussion provided valuable insights into the ongoing efforts to combat the Mpox outbreak in Sierra Leone, highlighting the roles of various stakeholders and the importance of community engagement in the response strategy. https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/mpox-outbreak-shows-significant-decline-after-intensive-national-response/