The Sierra Leone National Public Health Agency (NPHA) has presented a special recognition award to the Sierra Leone-China Friendship Biological Safety Laboratory (SLCFBS Lab) for its exceptional service and scientific contributions during the 2025 Mpox outbreak.
As of September 27, 2025, the SLCFBS Lab, one of NPHA’s 11 affiliated facilities, processed 3,198 suspected Mpox samples, confirming 2,702 positive cases. This figure represents over half of Sierra Leone’s total of 5,342 cases recorded by that date. The laboratory’s rapid and accurate diagnostic work proved crucial in shaping the country’s epidemic response, enabling timely public health interventions and containment strategies.
The honour also celebrates a decade of fruitful collaboration between the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC) and Sierra Leone, reflecting a shared vision of building a Global Health Community for All.
The partnership dates back to 2014, when China CDC established the SLCFBS Lab in Freetown at the height of the Ebola epidemic. As Sierra Leone’s first and only Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3) facility, the lab played a pivotal role in diagnosing cases, providing technical expertise, and strengthening the national health infrastructure.
Although the lab was originally intended to be handed over to Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MoHS) after the Ebola crisis, financial and technical constraints led China CDC to retain its management. Over the past decade, expert teams from China CDC have worked in annual rotations, ensuring that the laboratory remains at the forefront of infectious disease surveillance and emergency response.
During the 2025 Mpox outbreak, the SLCFBS Lab once again demonstrated its importance to national health security. The China CDC expert team provided reliable test results and epidemiological data to the MoHS and NPHA, supporting evidence-based decision-making. In addition to Mpox diagnostics, the lab continues to conduct testing for HIV, hepatitis B, and malaria, while expanding its capacity in epidemiological research and training for local laboratory professionals.
“The NPHA award is a recognition of the collective dedication of both Chinese and Sierra Leonean scientists,” said Dr. Haimo Shen, China CDC Country Director in Sierra Leone. “As we continue to work under the shared vision of a Global Health Community for All, we remain committed to strengthening local capacities, improving public health preparedness, and safeguarding the health of the Sierra Leonean people.”
To mark the 10th anniversary of China’s contribution to Sierra Leone’s Ebola response, China CDC will host a series of commemorative events and an international public health academic exchange from November 10–15, 2025, in Freetown. These events will celebrate the successes of the SLCFBS Lab, showcase joint research milestones and explore new avenues for collaboration in global health and epidemic preparedness.
Looking ahead, the China CDC expert team will continue to support the SLCFBS Lab’s operations, working closely with the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, NPHA, the World Health Organization (WHO) and Africa CDC. This ongoing partnership aims to strengthen Sierra Leone’s national laboratory network and reinforce its role in regional and global public health resilience.
The Calabash Newspaper is Sierra Leone’s leading English‑language news platform—established in 2017 to deliver trusted coverage of politics, culture, health, and more to audiences both at home and abroad.
