A high-level engagement took place on July 22, 2025, at the Koinadugu District Government Hospital to officially receive and install a mobile laboratory deployed by the Institut Pasteur de Dakar (IPD) in support of Sierra Leone’s ongoing mpox outbreak response. The session was formally opened by Madam Doris Harding, Laboratory Pillar Lead from the National Public Health Agency (NPHA), who warmly welcomed all participants. She acknowledged the presence of medical doctors, matrons, a technical team from IP Dakar, including expert epidemiologists, laboratory scientists, and data scientists, and a representative from HAEDA.
In her remarks, the Lab Pillar Lead, Madam Harding, conveyed that she was representing the leadership of the NPHA and was present on their behalf to oversee the installation and initiation of the mobile laboratory. She highlighted that this is not the first mobile laboratory support received from IP Dakar, but rather the second deployment, demonstrating a continued commitment to strengthening laboratory response capacity in hard-to-reach regions.
She further emphasized that the gathering was both a technical engagement and a courtesy call to local health authorities and facility staff. Following her address, each member of the visiting team introduced themselves, outlining their areas of expertise and the purpose of their presence in Sierra Leone.
The team lead from IP Dakar, Dr. Boubacar Diallo, then presented the full delegation from Senegal, noting that their presence was in direct response to a formal request from the National Public Health Agency of Sierra Leone for technical and logistical support in containing the mpox outbreak. Their deployment represents a strong show of regional solidarity and partnership in public health emergencies.
In the absence of the District Medical Officer (DMO), the delegation was warmly received by the Matron at the hospital, who expressed gratitude for the intervention and reiterated the district's readiness to collaborate.
Mobile Laboratory Installation and Technical Overview
Shortly after the engagement, the IP Dakar team successfully installed the mobile laboratory at the Koinadugu District Government Hospital, completing setup within just one hour of arrival.
The mobile facility is fully equipped with advanced technologies to enable high-throughput and accurate Mpox diagnosis, including:
* Real-time PCR platforms for rapid case confirmation
* Testing capacity of 1,500 samples with supplies in place at the first IPD mobile lab at the Port-Loko regional hospital to support additional needs, and the result can be made available within 2 hours from the reception of the samples to the final result.
* The IPD mobile lab at the Porto-Loko regional hospital holds Illumina and Oxford nanopore sequencing platforms for genomic surveillance and analysis of the chains of transmission.
* A team of IPD data scientists is also deployed in Freetown, supporting the country on data analysis and data platforms while building capacities for the local team on advanced data science.
This deployment brings testing closer to affected communities, significantly reducing turnaround times by reducing delays associated with transporting samples to central laboratories. It will serve Koinadugu and surrounding districts, including Falaba.
The intervention also serves as a capacity-building platform, offering hands-on training for local laboratory technicians and strengthening sustainable diagnostic capabilities at the district level.
A Regional Model for Public Health Collaboration
This initiative, fully funded by the Institut Pasteur de Dakar and its partners, demonstrates the power of cross-border collaboration in tackling public health emergencies. It also aligns with IPD’s broader mission of epidemic preparedness, capacity building, vaccine research, and public health workforce development.
Key officials present at the engagement included
Madam Doris Harding, Laboratory Pillar Lead, NPHA
Medical Superintendent, Koinadugu Government Hospital
Medical doctors
Together, the NPHA and IP Dakar are advancing Sierra Leone’s mpox response while setting a benchmark for integrated, real-time outbreak management in West Africa.