Freetown, Sierra Leone – In a serious increase to Sierra Leone’s well being sector, the World Well being Group (WHO) has donated medical provides and gear price over $640,000 to help the Ministry of Well being and the Nationwide Public Well being Company (NPHA).
That is the third donation of mpox management laboratory and medical provides for the reason that onset of mpox outbreak in January 2025, marking the biggest to the nation this 12 months. The provides intention to strengthen the nationwide response to mpox and reinforce broader well being programmes together with HIV and the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI).
The official handover ceremony happened on the Emergency Operations Middle of the NPHA in Freetown, the place WHO Consultant Dr George Ameh offered the gadgets to the Honourable Deputy Minister of Well being 1, Professor Charles Senessie.
The donation targets three important well being priorities: the response to mpox, HIV companies, and immunization protection. Among the many provides are private protecting gear (PPE) for healthcare staff, GeneXpert cartridges and different important laboratory supplies for mpox prognosis and monitoring, in addition to chilly chain gear to help HIV and immunization service supply.
Dr George Ameh emphasised WHO’s ongoing dedication to world well being safety and its partnership with Sierra Leone. “We’re happy at hand over these important provides which can instantly contribute to the mpox response and assist construct long-term well being system resilience. Strengthening well being infrastructure at this time is an funding within the nation’s future capability to forestall and reply to public well being threats.”
The donated gear will instantly help the continuing mpox response and contribute to broader well being system resilience. Because the nation continous to report new instances, the provides are anticipated to strengthen laboratory capability, enhance case detection and monitoring, guarantee the protection of healthcare staff whereas strengthening HIV and immunization programmes.
Receiving the gadgets on behalf of the Govt Director of the NPHA, Dr James Squire, Incident Supervisor for the mpox response, Professor Senessie expressed appreciation for WHO’s partnership.
“We thank WHO for this beneficiant donation and guarantee you will probably be used for the meant function to strengthen the well being sector and enhance well being outcomes for the folks of Sierra Leone. This donation couldn’t have come at a extra important time. It’s going to straight help ongoing efforts to comprise the outbreak and shield well being staff on the frontline,” he famous.
This contribution is a part of WHO’s broader help to strengthen well being safety, enhance emergency preparedness, and advance common well being protection in Sierra Leone.
Due to GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance and The International Fund for the beneficiant help.