Freetown: The West African Health Organisation (WAHO), in collaboration with the Coalition Against Lassa Fever and Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MoHS), is conducting a National Capacity-Building Workshop for Lassa Fever Working Groups from February 24 to 26, 2026, in Freetown, Sierra Leone. The workshop’s primary goal is to enhance national preparedness for the anticipated introduction of a Lassa fever vaccine, advocating for a structured, evidence-based approach to planning and coordination.
According to Sierra Leone News Agency, Deputy Chief Medical Officer for Public Health, Dr. Alie Wurie, representing the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, affirmed the Ministry’s unwavering commitment to the national working group. He highlighted the critical importance of introducing a vaccine to safeguard frontline health workers and decrease the high maternal mortality rates linked to the virus. The Ministry’s dedication was further demonstrated by the participation of Mr. Andrew L. Sorie, Senior
Permanent Secretary of the MoHS.
Dr. Mohammed Vandi, from the National Public Health Agency, underscored the strategic significance of being vaccine-ready to address current challenges in epidemiological surveillance and diagnostic systems. He acknowledged the efforts already made by the national working group and noted that vaccine preparedness would significantly enhance overall disease management in Sierra Leone.
AMB. John Azumah, the ECOWAS Representative in Sierra Leone, emphasized the need for regional solidarity, citing cross-border mobility as a factor necessitating a coordinated, multisectoral response. This response should extend beyond public health to involve civil society, agriculture, and environmental sectors.
Mr. Chimezie Anueyiagu, representing CEPI, praised Sierra Leone’s leadership and reaffirmed CEPI’s commitment to supporting evidence generation, including clinical studies, to ensure rapid and equitable vaccine access once available, with a projected deployment timeline around 2032.
D
r. Salif Gnoumou, representing the WAHO Director General, stressed the importance of regional integration and the necessity of anticipating the vaccine’s arrival by establishing regulatory and deployment infrastructure now, rather than waiting for the vaccine’s completion.
The workshop is set to:
– Define and prioritize Lassa fever vaccine readiness indicators for Sierra Leone;
– Assess current frameworks for deploying investigational vaccines in epidemic situations;
– Identify key funding needs and resource mobilization strategies to support the action plan;
– Validate a detailed roadmap with specific timelines for future actions by the national working group.
Over the course of three days, these discussions aim to transform commitments into an operational action plan, positioning Sierra Leone as a regional leader in Lassa fever vaccine readiness.