Sierra Leone strengthens readiness for vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks through tabletop simulation exercise
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).
Sierra Leone launches the development of Strategic Plans for Malaria, HIV, and Tuberculosis
Freetown—The Ministry of Health, with support from the World Health Organization (WHO), CDC Foundation, the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), and key health partners, convened a joint dissemination meeting to share the findings of the end-term reviews of the National Strategic Plans (NSPs) for malaria, HIV, and tuberculosis, and to officially launch the development process for the 2026–2030 NSPs.
Adolescents lead conversations on health and well-being in Sierra Leone
Freetown—As part of the commemoration of International Adolescent Health Week (IAHW) 2025, the Ministry of Health, through its National School and Adolescent Health Programme, with technical and financial support from the World Health Organization (WHO) Country Office in Sierra Leone, hosted a one-day symposium on Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) and Substance Abuse Prevention in Freetown on 17 October 2025.
MoH and WHO Sierra Leone conclude joint planning meeting for 2026–2027 workplans
Freetown—The Ministry of Health (MoH) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have successfully concluded a one-day joint planning meeting for the 2026–2027 Biennial Workplans, held at Brookfields Hotel in Freetown. This meeting marks the beginning of a renewed collaboration to implement WHO’s Fourteenth General Programme of Work (GPW14), which aims to promote, provide, and protect health and well-being for all people, everywhere.
WHO donation strengthens Sierra Leone’s health system with essential supplies and equipment
Freetown, 1 October 2025 – Health workers across Sierra Leone will now be better equipped to detect, monitor, and respond to health threats thanks to a major donation from the World Health Organization (WHO). Supplies and equipment worth USD 456,483.20 were handed over to the Ministry of Health (MoH) and the National Public Health Agency (NPHA) to strengthen disease surveillance, antimicrobial resistance tracking, and emergency preparedness.
Sierra Leone concludes inaugural workshop on institutionalizing medical certification of cause of death and ICD-11
Freetown, 25 September 2025 – The Ministry of Health (MoH) and the National Civil Registration Authority (NCRA), in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), have concluded a two-day inaugural meeting of the death reporting sub-committee, bringing together health professionals, civil registration experts, academia, and partners.
WHO Supports Sierra Leone’s End-Term Review of the National TB Strategic Plan
Sierra Leone has successfully completed the End-Term Review (ETR) of its National Tuberculosis (TB) Strategic Plan (2021–2025), a pivotal exercise aimed at evaluating the country’s progress in the fight against TB, identifying ongoing challenges, and setting priorities for the next strategic phase. The review process, which began in March 2025, included comprehensive epidemiological and programmatic assessments conducted from 1 to 12 September 2025.
WHO donates supplies to boost infection prevention and control in Schools in Sierra Leone, as they reopen.
09 September 2025, Freetown, Sierra Leone –The World Health Organization (WHO) has newly donated infection prevention and Control materials for the mpox response to Sierra Leone's national health authorities. The supplies aim to enhance the government's response efforts to mpox in schools. With this donation, the WHO has now delivered financial and technical support worth USD one million since the Government of Sierra Leone declared mpox a Public Health Emergency in January 2025.
“Early care saved my son from severe mpox disease”
When 9-year-old Romulus Jr. fell ill, his father, Romulus Thomas Blackie, thought it was just the flare-up of sickle cell disease which the child had complained of. He never imagined it would be Mpox - a disease that has infected more than 5 200 people and claimed 55 lives in Sierra Leone since January 2025. Cases have been confirmed in all 16 districts of the country with the capital city, Freetown and its suburbs, accounting for nearly 75% of all the reported cases.
WHO’s investment of more than USD 300,000 to the ‘Enhanced Mpox Response Campaign’ in Sierra Leone contributes to a 50% decline in mpox cases.
A WHO-supported house-to-house Mpox nationwide campaign in Sierra Leone, valued at a cost of USD 300,000, has significantly reduced the number of Mpox cases countrywide by 50% in one month. This successful campaign, named “Enhanced Integrated Mpox Response (EIMR),” conducted over four weeks from July 9 to August 3, 2025, was led by the Ministry of Health, the National Public Health Agency, and District Health Management Teams.