Freetown, July 2025 —
Confronting a significant surge in Mpox infections now confirmed across every one of Sierra Leone’s 16 districts, the Government has mobilized a comprehensive, nationwide response. The initiative, driven by the imperative to “Leave No Case Behind,” aims to ensure universal identification, support, and linkage to care for all affected individuals, irrespective of geographic remoteness or socioeconomic standing.
Spearheaded by the National Public Health Agency (NPHA), the strategy leverages crucial backing from a coalition of international partners, including UNICEF, the World Health Organization (WHO), GOAL, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), the US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (US CDC), the Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), and the ECOWAS Regional Centre for Surveillance and Disease Control (ECOWAS RCSDC). This unified effort translates into a series of tightly coordinated interventions actively rolling out across the nation. These encompass rigorous active case finding and meticulous contact tracing to break the chains of transmission, the strategic deployment of Community Health Workers (CHWs) and specialized Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) to reach even the most isolated communities, and the establishment of clear pathways for referral and treatment at designated health facilities equipped to manage cases.
Recognizing that overcoming the outbreak hinges on public trust and participation, a cornerstone of the response is profound community engagement. The dedicated Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) team is leading the charge against the parallel threats of dangerous misinformation and pervasive stigma. Their multifaceted approach involves deploying social mobilizers and collaborating closely with trusted local leaders and community health reporters to disseminate accurate, life-saving information. Particular emphasis is placed on ensuring vulnerable populations – including youths, persons with disabilities, students, and historically marginalized communities – are not only reached, but actively involved, fostering an environment where early symptom reporting is encouraged and supported.
“Our goal is unequivocal — no Mpox case in Sierra Leone should go undetected or untreated,” stated Dr. James Squire, Incident Manager for the Mpox Response at the NPHA. “This is a whole-of-country effort, demanding and receiving collaboration at every level, from village leaders to international experts, to make that goal a reality and protect our people.”
Health officials underscore that this robust and integrated approach reflects Sierra Leone’s resolute commitment to confronting the health emergency head-on. The strategy demonstrates a clear model, where decisive government leadership, seamless collaboration with committed partners, and the indispensable active engagement of empowered communities converge to mount an effective defense against complex public health threats, aiming to bring the Mpox outbreak under control and safeguard the nation’s health. The success of the “Leave No Case Behind” principle now rests on the sustained execution of these coordinated actions in every corner of Sierra Leone.