(Monrovia, Liberia – March 13, 2025) – The Ministry of Health (MOH), through the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) with support from partners, has commenced a two-day Training of Trainers (ToT) workshop on Mpox vaccination for national health staff from March 13-14, 2025. This initiative aims to strengthen Liberia’s capacity to prevent and control the spread of Mpox through effective immunization strategies. The ToT workshop focuses on equipping participants with the necessary skills to identify signs and symptoms of Mpox, implement preventive measures, and administer the Modified Vaccinia Ankara-Bavarian Nordic (MVA-BN) Mpox vaccine. Additionally, participants will learn about vaccine storage and handling, adverse event monitoring, waste management, and risk communication strategies. The ultimate goal is to ensure that trained personnel can disseminate accurate information and train other healthcare workers across the country.

During the opening session, Dr. Monday Julius, WHO Team Lead for Health Emergencies, commended Liberia for being among the leading countries adopting the Mpox vaccination strategy. He acknowledged the collaborative efforts of the WHO, Africa CDC, and other partners in making the vaccine rollout a reality. “Liberia is blessed that at this time to be among the few countries that are championing the vaccination approach, and with Many thanks to the Africa CDC and other organizations, WHO inclusive, we are working together to make this a reality to have the vaccine rolled out,” Dr. Julius added.

Similarly, Dr. Bakary Sonko, Africa CDC Senior Country Representative, reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to strengthening Liberia’s health emergency response. He urged participants to fully engage in the training to enhance Mpox prevention efforts nationwide. Representing the Ministry of Health’s Senior Management Team, Dr. Yuah A. Nemah, EPI Acting Program Manager, officially launched the workshop. He emphasized the critical role of trained professionals in ensuring effective vaccine distribution and public awareness.

Mpox remains a public health emergency of international concern, as reaffirmed by the World Health Organization (WHO) during its International Health Regulations (IHR) Committee meeting in February 2025. The ongoing global spread—including in countries with no prior reported cases—has necessitated urgent response measures. Vaccination is recognized as a critical countermeasure to contain the outbreak, and WHO has encouraged all affected countries to incorporate immunization into their response efforts. The ongoing ToT workshop is essential in safeguarding public health and strengthening the country’s outbreak response capacity.