By Abass Mahmoud Sillah Jr.
The Minister of Health, Austin H. Demby, has on Thursday, 14th August 2025, informed them that they are targeting zero Mpox in October this year.
He made this during the stakeholders discussion organized by the Directorate of Communications in the Ministry of Health, saying this target is not only for the country to record zero mpox but also to maintain it so that during the festive season the cases will not rise again.
Adding that the strategy they are implementing to achieve zero Mpox by October is whenever they identify any case of Mpox, they will bring them to the facility, where the patient gets maximum care and support.
He continued that secondary infections are managed, and it’s for them and their health, but also removing them from the home for them to further transmit it within the households.
Also mentioned this new strategy has a twofold approach. One extract infected depression, put them in a place where they could care for them very well, at the same time intensify the prevention efforts within the household, and communities.
He emphasized that when this new strategy was deployed, the number of cases came down week by week. Now the task demands, for every case, they want to know the case and ensure they come to the facility to have proper medical care.
Dr Demby, however, maintained that their strategy is not only in Freetown, the epicenter for Mpox, but also in the districts; if they record one case, they will have an overwhelming response around the case to manage the case and ensure that the country moves beyond 42 days with zero Mpox.
