The monkeypox (Mpox) outbreak in Sierra Leone emerged in early 2025 against the backdrop of a health system still recovering from Ebola and COVID-19, quickly escalating into one of the largest clusters on the African continent. Declared a public health emergency after the first confirmed case in January 2025, the epidemic spread rapidly through densely populated urban areas such as Freetown and Western Area, with thousands of confirmed cases and dozens of deaths recorded over the course of the year. Mpox’s painful skin lesions, potential for severe disease, and associated stigma placed a heavy burden on communities and front-line providers, while limited laboratory capacity and constrained clinical infrastructure complicated early detection, isolation, and treatment. As transmission extended to all districts, the outbreak stressed already fragile referral hospitals and underscored long-standing gaps in infection prevention, surveillance, and supply chains.

In response, Healey International Relief Foundation (HIRF) and F.L.I.G.H.T. joined with national and international partners, including MAP International and Pee Cee & Sons, to bolster Sierra Leone’s Mpox response and broader health-system resilience. Through this collaboration, the partners coordinated multiple shipments of essential medicines, personal protective equipment, and other critical supplies that were formally handed over to the Ministry of Health and Sanitation and the National Public Health Agency to support case management, protect health workers, and reinforce emergency operations (Wholesale Acquisition Cost: ~$3.2 million). These donations complemented government-led efforts such as expanded testing networks, dedicated treatment centers, and vaccination and contact-tracing campaigns, helping to stabilize care for patients while strengthening the country’s ability to respond to future public health threats.