Sierra Leone News

Freetown - In a major step to sustain gains in digital disease surveillance, Sierra Leone has completed another successful round of nationwide troubleshooting of health facility devices used in electronic Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (eIDSR). Conducted in May and June 2025, the technical exercise covered all 16 districts and aimed to enhance the performance and sustainability of the country’s electronic reporting system.

Freetown, Sierra Leone – Christiana Kamara, 43, is one of four women who recently underwent life-saving surgery for early-stage invasive cervical cancer in Sierra Leone. A mother of four, her story reflects the personal and health system challenges many women in the country face, but also, the increasing availability of effective care close to home.

“It started with some sharp pain, especially during sex,” Christiana says. “Then I noticed weight loss and a reduction in my body size. That’s when I became really concerned.”

Freetown, Sierra Leone – Sierra Leone has taken another step forward in strengthening national capacity for cervical cancer care through the successful completion of a second round of complex surgical procedures for women diagnosed with early-stage invasive cervical cancer.

Bo district  - Sierra Leone has entered a critical phase in strengthening its pandemic preparedness and response capacities, officially flagging-off the operationalisation of the Pandemic Fund. This milestone signals the country’s continued commitment to protecting communities and contributing to global health security.

Freetown/Sierra Leone - It happened in seconds. The doors of the health facility flew open. A young man was rushed in, barely breathing, his family screaming behind him.

Freetown, Sierra Leone - In a coordinated effort to curb the spread of mpox, the Government of Sierra Leone, working closely with the World Health Organization (WHO), Africa CDC, WAHO and partners has deployed 36 AVoHC-SURGE responders to the country’s hotspot districts. The responders, drawn from across multiple sectors, represent a powerful show of solidarity in a moment that demands speed, precision, and collaboration.

Freetown, Sierra Leone - Today in Freetown, the World Health Organization (WHO) organized a high-level meeting to share update on the mpox situation in Sierra Leone and address urgent gaps.

Freetown, Sierra Leone - When Yusuf Sesay first noticed a strange itch around his genital area, mpox wasn’t the first thing that came to mind. He figured it might just be a mild infection, something a quick pharmacy run could fix. But within a few days, the discomfort spiraled into something harder to ignore: fever, pounding headaches, and the kind of fatigue that made getting out of bed quite difficult. 

Freetown, Sierra Leone - Community engagement is visibly reshaping Sierra Leone’s response to mpox. Since the first confirmed case in January 2025, health workers and mobilisers have been moving steadily through affected areas, bridging information gaps, building trust, and helping people understand how to protect themselves and their families.

Kenema, Sierra Leone – For Mariama Sankoh, a 36-year-old mother of two, visiting the Kenema Government Hospital for a routine health check turned out to be a life-changing experience.

"I went for the screening because I heard about it through community sensitization," Mariama explains. "The nurses were kind and explained the process. When they told me I had early signs of a problem, they treated me the same day. I am thankful I came."