As part of Sierra Leone’s ongoing fight against MPox, Minister of Health, Dr. Austin Demby, gratefully received an additional 50,000 doses of the vaccine on July 19, 2025, a generous support from GAVI, Africa CDC, WHO, and UNICEF. More than just numbers, this act of kindness and collaboration symbolizes the strong international solidarity and shared dedication to protecting Sierra Leoneans, ensuring that together, they are working towards ending the outbreak and safeguarding the health of every community member.
With these medications and ongoing national response strategies tirelessly monitoring, isolating, treating, and supporting those affected individuals, the chances of defeating the outbreak will significantly increase.
Receiving the drugs on behalf of the President and the people of Sierra Leone, Dr. Austin Demby spoke about how that moment felt like a significant step forward in their fight against MPox. He highlighted the President’s steadfast dedication and commitment to safeguarding every Sierra Leonean from the virus.
“Vaccines are very potent tools to fight public health outbreaks,” he said, stressing that the medications would drastically help in cutting down on infection rates.
“Our national response strategy has proven effective as we continue to score major gains in the reduction of positive cases from around the country, “the minister pointed out.
According to data from the National Public Health Agency, as of Monday 21st July 2025, Sierra Leone has recorded nearly 5,000 confirmed cases of the virus with over 4,000 recoveries and 42 deaths.
Currently, the country records anywhere between 0 to 10 new confirmed cases each day, which is a heartening sign of progress. Just a few months ago, over 50 cases daily was recorded. This dramatic drop is a testament to the hard work and dedication of health workers and everyone involved in the response efforts.
While Sierra Leone is now so close to ending the MPox outbreak, Minister Demby stays cautiously hopeful. He cautioned that even though progress is clear, the fight isn’t finished yet. “We must keep our vigilance until we reach forty days with no new confirmed cases,” he said, stating that “until we reach forty (40) days of zero confirmed cases, the fight against MPox is not yet over.”
Even with the world’s growing need for vaccines, Sierra Leone’s government and its partners in health have shown remarkable dedication and resilience. In just six months, they have worked tirelessly to overcome challenges, and successfully secure over 200,000 doses of the vaccine. The achievement reflects their deep commitment to protecting every Sierra Leonean, demonstrating that no effort is too great when it comes to safeguarding the health and future of the people.
Since the available vaccines are limited, the Ministry of Health is carefully making sure they reach those who need them most- the dedicated frontline health workers, vulnerable communities, and anyone who has come into close contact with someone infected. This careful approach shows deep care and commitment to protecting every life, especially those at greatest risk, as they work tirelessly to keep communities safe.
The Ministry of Health is fully dedicated to fight against the outbreak with working tirelessly to stay vigilant, keep communities informed, and build trust by sharing accurate knowledge about the disease.
