The National Public Health Agency (NPHA) welcomed the Regional Director for the West Africa Regional Coordinating Center of Africa CDC, Dr. Kokou Nouwame Alinoh, during a courtesy visit to its headquarters in Wilberforce, Freetown. The visit marked a significant moment of collaboration and reflection on Sierra Leone’s mpox outbreak response.
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 gathering provided an opportunity to share progress, challenges, and lessons learned from the national response.
Professor Foday Sahr opened the meeting with a warm welcome, expressing appreciation for Africa CDC’s continued support. He emphasized that the mpox response was guided by a One Health approach involving key ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) to ensure a multisectoral strategy. He noted that the response was decentralized across all 16 districts, enabling rapid interventions and 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 their unwavering support throughout the outbreak and expressed hope that such collaboration would continue to grow. “We are grateful for the technical and financial assistance provided, and we look forward to deepening this partnership as we strengthen our health systems,” he added.
Dr. James Squire then provided an overview of the meeting’s objectives and delivered a detailed presentation on the mpox outbreak response. His briefing included a financial report outlining funds received, disbursement processes, and expenditure tracking. He also shared updates on the current status of the outbreak and highlighted the coordinated efforts that led to a significant reduction in case numbers. Dr. Squire extended gratitude to all national and district-level responders, acknowledging their tireless work and commitment.
During the interactive session, Dr. Kokou Alinoh commended the NPHA team for their transparency and dedication. He praised the financial reporting process, stating, “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 lauded the team’s success in reducing infection rates from triple digits to single digits, calling it a testament to effective coordination and resilience.
In his briefing, Dr. Alex Vandi acknowledged the progress made but also highlighted ongoing challenges. He expressed a desire to see 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’s still work to be done. Strengthening inter-pillar coordination will be key to sustaining our gains and preparing for future threats,” he noted.
Dr. Vandi closed the meeting with a message of hope and determination. He thanked Africa CDC for its partnership and encouraged the team to remain proactive. “Let this be a milestone, not a finish line. Our commitment to accountability, innovation, and community health must continue to guide us,” he said.
It was a fruitful meeting that concluded with a firm handshake between Professor Foday Sahr and Dr. Kokou Nouwame Alinoh, symbolizing mutual respect and continued partnership. Pictures were taken at the end to commemorate the occasion, capturing the spirit of collaboration and shared commitment to public health advancement.
©️ Public Relations Unit NPHA-SL