A high-level meeting to review Sierra Leone’s response to the Mpox outbreak has been held at the New Brookfields Hotel, bringing together government officials, health experts, and international partners.
The event was organised by the National Public Health Agency in collaboration with the Ministry of Health. It focused on assessing what worked during the outbreak, identifying challenges, and improving future preparedness.
The meeting began with a moment of silent prayer led by Dr. James Squire, Director of Surveillance and Epidemiology and Incident Manager for the Mpox response. He said the review was an important step to learn lessons and strengthen the country’s readiness for future health emergencies.
Chief Medical Officer Dr. Alie Wurie welcomed participants and said the review builds on earlier assessments carried out during the outbreak. He stressed that lessons from Mpox must help Sierra Leone prepare better for future crises.
Speaking on behalf of the agency’s leadership, Deputy Executive Director Alhaji Dr. Mohamed Alex Vandi thanked the government and partners for their support. He noted that Sierra Leone’s government was the first to fund the response when the outbreak was declared. He also praised Health Minister Dr. Austin Demby for his efforts in mobilising resources and securing vaccines.
International partners commended Sierra Leone’s response. The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, led in-country by Dr. Monique Foster, praised the quick activation of response systems and improvements in surveillance and laboratory services. Médecins Sans Frontières also highlighted its work in case management and treatment support, stressing the importance of strong partnerships.
Other organisations, including WHO, UNICEF, and GOAL, contributed to different parts of the response such as logistics, infection prevention, and community engagement.
Technical presentations during the meeting reviewed key areas like surveillance, laboratory services, case management, and communication. Experts said the review followed global standards under the International Health Regulations, which require countries to evaluate their response after major outbreaks.
Data presented showed how the disease spread and how interventions helped control it. An improvement plan was also introduced, outlining short-term, medium-term, and long-term actions.
In the short term, authorities plan to strengthen surveillance, train more health workers, and improve resource mobilisation. Medium-term plans include expanding laboratory capacity and improving coordination systems. Long-term strategies will focus on building a stronger and more resilient health system.
The discussions were led by Deputy Minister of Health Professor Dr. Charles Senessie, who called for more local solutions, including the production of essential items like hand sanitisers. District medical officers also shared their experiences, raising issues such as limited resources in isolation centres and the need for better patient care support.
Participants praised the government’s “find them all” campaign, which helped improve case detection, and highlighted the role of community engagement in controlling the outbreak.
Closing the meeting, Dr. Wurie thanked all partners and health workers for their dedication. He said the review is not just about looking back, but about preparing for the future.
He added that Sierra Leone is committed to strengthening its public health emergency systems to respond faster and more effectively to future outbreaks.
