National Capacity-Building Workshop for Lassa Fever Working Groups in Sierra Leone.

The West African Health Organisation (WAHO), in partnership with the Coalition Against Lassa Fever and the Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MoHS) of Sierra Leone, is organising, from 24 to 26 February 2026 in Freetown, Sierra Leone, the National Capacity-Building Workshop for Lassa Fever Working Groups.

The workshop aims to strengthen national preparedness for the future introduction of a Lassa fever vaccine by promoting a structured, evidence-based approach to planning and coordination.

On behalf of the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Deputy Chief Medical Officer for Public Health, Dr Alie Wurie, reaffirmed the Ministry's full commitment to the national working group. He stressed that the future introduction of a vaccine is vital to protect frontline health workers and reduce the high maternal mortality associated with the virus. Institutional support was further underscored by the presence of Mr Andrew L. Sorie, Senior Permanent Secretary of the MoHS.

Representing the National Public Health Agency, Dr Mohammed Vandi highlighted the strategic importance of vaccine readiness in alleviating current challenges in epidemiological surveillance and diagnostic systems. He recalled the work already accomplished by the national working group, noting that vaccine preparedness will greatly facilitate overall disease management in the country.

AMB. John Azumah, ECOWAS Representative in Sierra Leone, placed the event under the sign of regional solidarity, recalling that cross-border mobility demands a coordinated, multisectoral response — one that extends beyond public health to encompass civil society, agriculture, and environmental sectors.

Mr Chimezie Anueyiagu, representing CEPI, commended Sierra Leone's leadership and reiterated CEPI's commitment to supporting the generation of evidence, including clinical studies, to ensure rapid and equitable access to vaccines once available, with a projected deployment horizon of around 2032.

Finally, Dr Salif Gnoumou, representing WAHO Director General, emphasised the importance of regional integration and the need to anticipate the vaccine's arrival — stressing that regulatory and deployment infrastructure must be built now, without waiting for the vaccine to be ready.

The workshop aims to:

- Define and prioritise Lassa fever vaccine readiness indicators for Sierra Leone;

- Assess existing frameworks for deploying investigational vaccines in epidemic settings;

- Identify priority funding needs and resource mobilisation pathways to support the action plan;

- Validate a clear roadmap with precise timelines for future actions by the national working group.

The continuous exchanges over these three days will transform these commitments into an operational action plan, establishing Sierra Leone as a regional pioneer in Lassa fever vaccine readiness.