Minister of Health, Dr. Austin Demby,
By Josephine Sesay
Sierra Leone’s Minister of Health, Dr. Austin Demby, has raised alarm over the rising Mpox outbreak in the country, attributing the surge in infections to widespread public non-compliance with health directives. In a recent briefing to Parliament, Dr. Demby emphasized that the worsening situation is primarily due to individuals ignoring key medical guidelines especially the need to isolate infected persons.
The outbreak is getting worse every day because people are not following directives from medical practitioners, Dr. Demby told lawmakers, he underscored the urgent need to move Mpox patients from their homes into healthcare facilities equipped to offer appropriate treatment and prevent further transmission.
Since the first two Mpox cases were confirmed in January 2025, Sierra Leone has reported a total of 2,045 confirmed cases, prompting the government to declare a public health emergency. The declaration enabled the mobilization of resources and the implementation of critical containment measures, including strengthened surveillance, contact tracing, and nationwide public awareness campaigns.
In a significant boost to the country’s response efforts, Sierra Leone received 61,300 doses of the MVA-BN Mpox vaccine in February 2025, the vaccines secured through partnerships with Africa CDC, CEPI, Gavi, UNICEF, WHO, and other global health organizations are being prioritized for frontline healthcare workers, high-risk communities, and outbreak-prone areas.
Dr. Demby assured Parliament that the ministry of health is fully committed to formulating and enforcing healthcare regulations aimed at curbing the spread of the disease, he urged all citizens to cooperate with health authorities, adhere strictly to medical advice, and actively participate in vaccination programs.
The fight against Mpox requires collective responsibility, he said, only through national unity and adherence to science-based strategies can we overcome this outbreak, the ministry continues to work closely with international partners to strengthen Sierra Leone’s public health response and safeguard the health and well-being of all citizens.
Copy right –Printed in the Expo Times News on Friday, May 19th, 2025 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
