Sierra Leone News

Freetown—When Sierra Leone confirmed its first mpox case in January 2025, few anticipated the scale of the health emergency. By November of that year, more than 5400 cases and 60 deaths were reported across the country.

While most survivors recovered with standard supportive care, a small number developed severe complications, including extensive body tissue destruction and chronic, non-healing wounds requiring specialized treatment not widely available in the country.

Freetown—Sierra Leone has scored a major public health milestone by exceeding national targets in a recent human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign, helping to accelerate progress towards eliminating cervical cancer as a public health threat by 2030.

Freetown—In the past, cervical cancer diagnosis meant Sierra Leonean women had to travel to neighbouring countries for treatment, if they could afford it. Today, thanks to strong leadership of the Ministry of Health, working in close collaboration with World Health Organization (WHO), UNFPA, Friends of Africa and international partners, lifesaving prevention and care is becoming more available at home. South-South partnerships with Zambia and China have strengthened national capacity, giving women hope and saving lives.

Freetown—For four months, Yeabu Sesay did what she had always done for others. She showed up for work at Makeni Regional Hospital, tended to patients through long shifts, and carried herself with the calm confidence expected of an experienced nurse. Few people knew that beneath her uniform, she was struggling with a deeply personal health problem that was slowly wearing her down.

Freetown—From 1–3 December 2025, the WHO Regional Office for Africa (WHO AFRO) and the WHO Sierra Leone Country Office jointly conducted a high-level Resource Mobilization (RM) Masterclass in Freetown to strengthen Sierra Leone’s capacity for effective and sustainable health financing for the 2026–2027 biennium.

Freetown—The World Health Organization (WHO), with support from the Global Fund and Fleming Fund, has delivered medical supplies and infection prevention and control (IPC) materials worth more than USD $1 million to the Sierra Leone health authorities. The donation aims to enhance Sierra Leone's emergency response and public health capacities.

Freetown—Sierra Leone concluded a three-day national workshop in Freetown to advance the development of the National Health Sector Strategic Plan (NHSSP) 2026–2030. The workshop gathered more than 120 stakeholders from the Ministry of Health, related ministries, departments and agencies, development partners, and the wider health sector.

Freetown—Sierra Leone has reached a significant milestone in its efforts to eliminate cervical cancer, achieving 100% district coverage for screening and treatment services.

Freetown—Sierra Leone has accelerated national efforts to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR) by transitioning from fragmented initiatives to a coordinated, data-driven national response that is already delivering measurable impact.

Freetown—Sierra Leone has completed a two-day tabletop simulation exercise, held from 5–6 November 2025 at the Public Health Emergency Operations Centre (PHEOC) in Freetown. The exercise was led by the Ministry of Health through the National Public Health Agency, with technical support from the World Health Organization (WHO). Funding was provided by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, under the Joint Emergency Action Plan (JEAP), and the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).