By Josephine Sesay
The Ministry of health convened a one-day National Discourse on the MPOX response at the Atlantic hotel in Aberdeen, bringing together media representatives, civil society organizations, development partners, and health officials from across Sierra Leone. The event assessed the country’s ongoing response to the MPOX outbreak and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to safeguarding public health.
In his keynote remarks, Minister of Health Dr. Austin Demby expressed deep appreciation to President Dr. Julius Maada Bio and the government for allocating $1.7 million in direct financial support to the MPOX response. Since Sierra Leone confirmed its first two cases in January 2025, the country declared a public health emergency and has since recorded more than 5,000 cases, with over 4,900 recoveries.
Minister Demby outlined key interventions led by the National Public Health Agency, including the establishment of specialized MPOX response centers in Hastings, Calaba Town, and Port Loko, along with isolation units in government hospitals to provide targeted treatment, he reported a sharp decline in active cases, now standing at 84 nationwide, with about 90% of patients admitted to healthcare facilities and the remainder under close surveillance.
This progress, he emphasized, is the result of a comprehensive strategy that prioritizes centralized treatment, rigorous contact tracing, and a case-by-case surveillance system designed to achieve zero MPOX transmission.
Highlighting Sierra Leone’s strong vaccination record, Minister Demby noted that the country has secured more than 200,000 doses of MPOX vaccines, significantly boosting its ability to contain the outbreak.
The National Discourse also underscored the Ministry of Health’s commitment to transparency and accountability in managing public health threats. It reaffirmed the government’s determination to protect citizens through coordinated, sustained, and community-driven interventions.
As Sierra Leone continues to tackle the MPOX outbreak, collaboration between government, civil society, and development partners remains crucial to strengthening health security and preventing future epidemics.
Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Wednesday,20th August 2025 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
