Sierra Leone’s battle with Mpox has highlighted the growing challenge of stigma faced by survivors, a concern that health experts say carries important lessons for Kenya as the virus spreads across Africa.
When Sierra Leone confirmed its first Mpox case in January, the government declared a public health emergency. Among those infected was survivor Nelson Johnson, who says recovery from the virus has not shielded him from discrimination.
“People think the person has many boyfriends or that Mpox is not real, that it is just chicken pox,” Johnson said. “So you find out people are not ready to accept it unless we go into the community and explain that I was affected, I survived, and it does not mean I can infect you again.”
Mpox, which originally spread from animals to humans, can also be transmitted through close human contact. It causes flu-like symptoms and a painful, itchy rash. While many patients recover, survivors say misinformation has worsened their social and economic situation.
“It’s not really easy for me. Things are not easy,” Another Mpox survivor Hannah Abibu said. “I don’t have a place to sleep, I don’t have food. At my workplace, when they knew I had Mpox, they didn’t allow me to return. Up to now, I’m searching for a job.”
Since January, Sierra Leone has recorded nearly 5,500 Mpox cases and 60 deaths. Health authorities say their response has gone beyond medical treatment.
“This response is not only focusing on case management,” a health official John Abu Bakarr Conteh said. “We also had psychosocial support, logistics and security. The psychosocial case management was paramount in ensuring we had everything needed to combat the mpox epidemic.”
The World Health Organization reports that at least 28 African countries have recorded more than 42,000 confirmed Mpox cases and nearly 200 deaths this year alone, underscoring the growing regional threat.
Public health experts warn that Kenya is not immune to the risk, given increased cross-border movement, regional trade, and travel across East and West Africa. They say stigma could undermine early detection and reporting if cases emerge locally.
Kenya’s Ministry of Health has previously emphasized the importance of surveillance, public awareness, and protecting frontline health workers. Lessons from Sierra Leone, experts note, highlight the need for clear communication to prevent discrimination and ensure that survivors can safely reintegrate into society.
Health advocates in Kenya are calling for proactive community education, psychosocial support mechanisms, and preparedness plans to ensure that fear and misinformation do not weaken the country’s response should Mpox cases rise.