By: Saidu Jalloh, Reporter D.S
Freetown, Sierra Leone — The United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has donated 75,000 doses of the MPOX vaccine to the government of Sierra Leone as part of efforts to combat the virus.
Liv Elin Indreiten, Deputy Representative of UNICEF in Sierra Leone, emphasized that the donation aims to support the National Public Health Agency (NPHA) and the Ministry of Health in administering vaccines through the GAVI initiative.
Sierra Leone is currently providing free MPOX vaccinations to health workers and other vulnerable populations in response to an alarming rise in infections. Since January 2025, over 3,500 people in the country have contracted the virus, resulting in more than 25 confirmed deaths. Approximately 80% of all cases have been reported in the capital, Freetown, which is the nation’s most densely populated region.
A few months ago, the Africa CDC expressed concerns about the rapid spread of MPOX in Sierra Leone, noting that the country was responsible for nearly half of all cases reported on the continent.
Sierra Leone’s healthcare system, still reeling from the devastating Ebola outbreak that ended in November 2015, faces significant challenges. UNICEF’s intervention is viewed as a critical step in halting the spread of MPOX, particularly in Freetown.
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