The Sierra Leone National Public Health Agency (NPHA) has honoured the Sierra Leone-China Friendship Biological Safety Laboratory (SLCFBS Lab) with a special award in recognition of its exceptional service and scientific contribution during the 2025 Mpox outbreak.
Out of NPHA’s 11 affiliated laboratories nationwide, SLCFBS Lab processed 3,198 suspected Mpox samples as of September 27, 2025, confirming 2,702 positive cases—accounting for over half of the country’s total 5,342 cases reported by the same date. The lab’s swift and accurate diagnostics provided crucial scientific support for epidemic containment and informed national response strategies.
The recognition not only celebrates the laboratory’s outstanding achievements but also highlights a decade of steadfast collaboration between the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC) and Sierra Leone. It stands as a testament to the shared vision of building a “Global Health Community for All.”
The roots of this collaboration trace back to 2014, when the Ebola epidemic devastated West Africa. In response, the Chinese government—through China CDC—established the SLCFBS Lab in Freetown, Sierra Leone’s first and only Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3) facility. The laboratory played a vital role in the country’s Ebola response, offering diagnostic services, technical guidance, and capacity-building support that strengthened the national health infrastructure.
Although initially slated for transfer to Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MoHS) after the Ebola crisis, continued technical and financial challenges led China CDC to maintain management of the lab. Since then, China CDC has deployed annual expert rotations, ensuring that SLCFBS Lab remained at the forefront of infectious disease surveillance and response. Over the past decade, it has become a cornerstone of Sierra Leone’s health security—contributing significantly to the country’s responses to Ebola, COVID-19, and most recently, Mpox.
During the 2025 Mpox outbreak, the China CDC expert team at SLCFBS Lab provided reliable data and rapid testing to the MoHS and NPHA, directly informing evidence-based decision-making. Beyond Mpox diagnostics, the team has continued to expand testing for HIV, hepatitis B (HBV), and malaria, while advancing epidemiological investigations and training local laboratory professionals.
“The NPHA award recognizes the collective dedication of both Chinese and Sierra Leonean scientists,” said Dr. HaimoShen, China CDC Country Director in Sierra Leone. “Under the shared vision of a ‘Global Health Community for All,’ we remain committed to strengthening local capacities, enhancing public health preparedness, and safeguarding the well-being of the Sierra Leonean people.”
To commemorate the anniversary of China’s assistance to Sierra Leone in successfully defeating Ebola, China CDC will host a series of events and an international public health academic exchange from November 10–15, 2025, in Freetown. The commemoration will reflect on joint achievements, highlight success stories from the SLCFBS Lab, and outline new avenues for cooperation in global health research and epidemic preparedness.
Moving forward, the China CDC expert team will continue to oversee SLCFBS Lab operations while deepening collaborations with the MoHS, NPHA, and international partners such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and Africa CDC. This partnership aims to bolster Sierra Leone’s laboratory network and contribute to regional and global efforts to strengthen public health resilience.
Source: AYV News
