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The Armed Forces Wives Cooperative Society (AFWCS) has successfully conducted a three-day Mpox sensitisation campaign across various Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) barracks in Sierra Leone.
The initiative, which took place from June 18 to June 20, 2025, aimed to educate military families about Mpox, its transmission, and preventive measures.
The AFWCS visited several locations, including 15 Battalion (Bn) Lungi, 11 Bn Kambia, 4 Infantry Brigade (Inf Bde) Makeni, 14 Bn Pujehun, 5 Inf Bde Bo, 2 Inf Bde Kenema, and the Armed Forces Agricultural Unit (AFAU) in Moyamba. In many instances, AFWC members collaborated with battalions to gather audiences at brigade locations for the sensitization sessions.
At each site, AFWCS members presented an engaging play in Krio, illustrating the journey of Mpox, including how it is contracted and spreads. Their performance transformed complex medical information into an accessible format, ensuring that audiences could easily understand the risks associated with the virus. District Health Officers (DHOs) were also invited to emphasise the reality of Mpox and the importance of seeking medical treatment if symptoms arise.
Mrs. Asanatu Sao Idara Bangura, President of AFWCS and wife of the Chief of Defence Staff of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF), explained that the motivation behind the sensitisation tour was to better support their members.
She acknowledged the challenges faced by many wives of lower-ranking personnel, particularly regarding literacy and access to current health information. “We decided to simplify the message and bring it to their doorsteps in their barracks,” she stated.
Mrs. Idara Bangura further emphasised the AFWCS’s commitment to fostering peace and love within the community. “Our Society stands for peace and love and exists to seek one another’s interests,” she noted, highlighting the goal of the Mpox sensitization drive: to equip members with the knowledge needed to protect themselves and their families effectively.
In addition to the educational performances, the AFWCS donated handwashing and sanitisation supplies to each battalion, along with Mpox sensitisation materials to aid in preventing the virus’s spread.
