Conference Abstract | Volume 8, Abstract ELIC202521 (Poster 025) | Published:  30 Jul 2025

Strengthening Mpox preparedness and response in West Africa: A regional training and capacity building initiative ECOWAS Region, September 2024

Virgil Kuassi Lokossou1, Aishat Bukola Usman1,&, Melchior Athanase Aissi1

1West African Health Organization, Bobo Dioulasso, Burkina Faso

&Corresponding author: Aishat Bukola Usman, West African Health Organization, Bobo Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, Email: ausman@prj.wahooas.org

Received: 11 May 2025, Accepted: 09 Jul 2025, Published: 30 Jul 2025

Domain: Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Workforce Development

This is part of the Proceedings of the ECOWAS 2nd Lassa fever International Conference in Abidjan, September 8 – 11, 2025

Keywords: Mpox, Points of Entry, Border Health, Surveillance, Infection Control

©Virgil Kuassi Lokossou et al. Journal of Interventional Epidemiology and Public Health (ISSN: 2664-2824). This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution International 4.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Cite this article: Virgil Kuassi Lokossou et al., Strengthening Mpox preparedness and response in West Africa: A regional training and capacity building initiative ECOWAS Region, September 2024. Journal of Interventional Epidemiology and Public Health. 2025;8(Conf Proc 5):00169. https://doi.org/10.37432/JIEPH-CONFPRO5-00169

Introduction

To support the prevention of cross-border transmission of Mpox in the ECOWAS region, a regional training workshop was held in Abidjan from September 3–6, 2024. The workshop aimed to enhance the capacity of Points of Entry (PoE) personnel by equipping them with critical knowledge and practical skills. Participants included PoE officers, public health experts, and epidemiologists.  

Methods

The curriculum addressed Mpox epidemiology, clinical features, case management, infection prevention and control (IPC), risk communication, and community engagement. Practical sessions on screening, sample collection, and biosafety provided hands-on experience. 

Results

Forty PoE staff were trained, and the workshop received an overall satisfaction rating of 84.5%. A total of 81.8% strongly agreed that the sessions were engaging and interactive. Content was rated excellent by 75.4% of participants, with 73.7% affirming its relevance to their roles. The training methodology—including lectures, case studies, group discussions, and simulations—was rated excellent by 83.4%, while 63.6% strongly agreed that facilitators were effective. The majority (81.8%) found the duration appropriate. Notably, 100% of participants reported increased confidence in detecting and responding to Mpox at PoEs and committed to applying their new knowledge. 

Conclusion

The workshop highlighted the importance of a multisectoral, collaborative response involving national, regional, and international stakeholders. Recommendations included strengthening surveillance, enhancing diagnostic capacity, and developing standard operating procedures for Mpox response at Points of Entry. 

 
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Keywords

  • Mpox
  • Points of Entry
  • Border Health
  • Surveillance
  • Infection Control
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