By: Saidu Jalloh
The National Public Health Agency (NPHA) hosted Dr. Kokou Nouwame Alinoh, the Regional Director for the West Africa Regional Coordinating Center of Africa CDC, during a courtesy visit to its headquarters in Wilberforce, Freetown, on Wednesday. The visit was an important opportunity for collaboration and reflection on Sierra Leone’s response to the mpox outbreak.
Present at the meeting were Professor Foday Sahr, Executive Director of NPHA; Dr. Alex Vandi, Deputy Executive Director; Dr. James Squire, Incident Manager for the mpox response; and pillar leads from the Incident Management Team. The session served as a platform to discuss progress, challenges, and lessons learned from the national response to the outbreak.
In his opening remarks, Professor Sahr expressed gratitude for Africa CDC’s continued support. He emphasized that the mpox response had been guided by a One Health approach, which involved the collaboration of multiple ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) to ensure a comprehensive, multisectoral strategy. He explained that the response had been decentralized across Sierra Leone’s 16 districts, allowing for quick interventions and strong community-level engagement. “Our strength lies in our ability to mobilize across sectors and regions with unity and purpose,” he said. He also thanked Africa CDC for its technical and financial support and expressed hope for deepened collaboration in strengthening Sierra Leone’s health systems.
Dr. Squire provided a detailed briefing on the national mpox response, including an update on the current status of the outbreak. He presented a financial report, detailing the funds received, disbursement processes, and expenditure tracking. Dr. Squire commended the national and district-level teams for their tireless work and commitment, which had contributed to the significant reduction in case numbers.
In an interactive session, Dr. Alinoh praised the NPHA team for their transparency and dedication. He highlighted the impressive financial reporting process, noting, “It is good when financial aid is given and a full report is provided on how the money was used. This is impressive.” He also congratulated the team for reducing the infection rates from triple digits to single digits, describing the achievement as “a testament to effective coordination and resilience.”
Dr. Vandi acknowledged the progress made but emphasized the need for stronger collaboration between the surveillance and laboratory pillars, as well as improved synergy between case management and surveillance teams. “We’ve come a long way, but there is still work to be done. Strengthening inter-pillar coordination will be key to sustaining our gains and preparing for future threats,” he noted.
In his closing remarks, Dr. Vandi thanked Africa CDC for its continued partnership and urged the team to stay proactive. “Let this be a milestone, not a finish line. Our commitment to accountability, innovation, and community health must continue to guide us,” he concluded.
The meeting concluded with a handshake between Professor Sahr and Dr. Alinoh, symbolizing mutual respect and a commitment to further collaboration. Photographs were later taken to commemorate the occasion, capturing the spirit of partnership and shared dedication to advancing public health.