Sierra Leone’s Mpox Education Campaign Offers Public Health Model
October 14, 2025
Sierra Leone’s success in sharply reducing mpox cases offers a model for effective community-driven outbreak response. Through a robust public awareness campaign using radio, posters, text messages, and market outreach, new cases fell from 600 a week in May to just 26 by September. Improved testing, vaccination, and open communication helped dispel fear and stigma while empowering residents to take preventive measures. Collaboration between the Ministry of Health, WHO, UNICEF, and local leaders demonstrates how trust and education can turn the tide of an epidemic. Sustained funding and continued vigilance will be essential to preserve these hard-won gains.
Sierra Leone’s impressive decline in mpox cases shows the power of consistent public health messaging and community engagement. After peaking at around 600 new cases per week in May, the country now reports only about 26 weekly cases, a 95 percent reduction credited to effective communication, strong surveillance, and improved testing.
The government’s national awareness campaign used a mix of strategies—radio jingles, posters, daily text messages, and market outreach—to ensure information reached every corner of the country. Messages emphasized hand hygiene, early reporting, and empathy for patients to help dismantle stigma. By involving media outlets, local leaders, and social mobilizers, Sierra Leone ensured the public trusted the message and the messengers. WHO and UNICEF played critical roles by supporting the country’s Ministry of Health in training local educators and equipping health workers with factual information.
Dr. Ngashi Ngongo of the Africa CDC praised Sierra Leone’s integrated approach, which paired good vaccination coverage with community-led surveillance. Deputy Minister Alfred Jamiru’s leadership helped normalize discussions around the disease, urging citizens to see mpox as a health issue rather than a moral one.
Still, challenges remain. Funding shortages threaten vaccine availability across Africa, and neighboring nations such as Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Uganda continue to report rising cases. Sustaining Sierra Leone’s success will require ongoing investment in communication, vaccines, and community health systems.
Sierra Leone’s experience underscores a critical lesson: controlling infectious diseases depends as much on public trust and education as it does on medical treatment. By transforming communication into a tool of empowerment, Sierra Leone has shown how coordinated, transparent, and compassionate public health action can overcome fear, misinformation, and stigma—saving lives while strengthening community resilience.