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. 2025 Apr 9;50(Suppl 1):8.
doi: 10.11604/pamj.supp.2025.50.1.44476. eCollection 2025.

Mitigating the surge of mpox in Africa: capacity building through public outreach, sample and case management training for healthcare workers and veterinarians

Michael Onyebuchi Iroezindu  1   2   3   4 , Abdulwasiu Bolaji Tiamiyu  1   2   3   4 , Zahra Folasade Parker  1   2   4   5 , Danielle Bartolanzo  1   2   5 , Edward Abayomi Akinwale  1   2   3   4 , Melanie Diane McCauley  1   5 , Lateefat Kikeloma Amao  6 , Adeyinka Jeremy Adedeji  7 , Usman Oladipo Adekanye  8 , Fengming Hu  1   2   5 , Chinelo Chidiogo Ekweremadu  1   2   3   4 , Odianosen Ehiakhamen  6 , Ikenna Onoh  6 , Oladipo Ogunbode  6 , Afolabi Akinpelu  6 , Adama Ahmad  6 , Adefunke Oladipo-Opashina  1   2   3   4 , Petra Prins  1   5 , Mihret Amare  1   5 , Mamadou Bhoye Keita  9 , Kaba Kourouma  9 , Nathan Anelechi Elvis Okeji  8 , Laura Chittenden  4 , Kayvon Modjarrad  1 , Trevor Adam Crowell  2   5 , Natalie Denise Collins  1
Affiliations

Mitigating the surge of mpox in Africa: capacity building through public outreach, sample and case management training for healthcare workers and veterinarians

Michael Onyebuchi Iroezindu et al. Pan Afr Med J. .

Abstract

The global mpox outbreak and the current surge in Africa underscore the need for innovative epidemic preparedness/response strategies. We describe a comprehensive One Health capacity-building program for mpox response/control for healthcare workers (HCWs) and veterinarians in West Africa. The study design entailed prospective pre- and post-intervention assessments during a train-the-trainer program. Between March and October 2022, four mpox workshops were conducted for HCWs and veterinarians in Nigeria and Guinea. Additionally, two step-down trainings were conducted in Nigeria. Training modules comprised didactic and practical sessions on human and veterinary mpox epidemiology and management. Participants' knowledge of mpox was assessed with self-administered pre- and post-training questionnaires. A 5-point Likert scale was used to capture participants' feedback on eight training outcome parameters. Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to assess differences between pre-training and post-training scores. Of all participants (152), 146 participants (96.1%) completed all training components, including 104 HCWs (71.2%) and 42 veterinarians (28.8%). Participants' median age (interquartile range, IQR) was 43.0 (36.0-49.0) years, with 99 males (67.8%). Participant scores on mpox knowledge assessments improved from pre-training to post-training (median 55.0% [IQR 45.0-60.0%] to 80.0% [70.0-90.0%], p<0.001). High post-training satisfaction was observed: 83.3% (85/102) strongly agreed that "I am satisfied with the training event," while 64.1% (66/103) strongly agreed that "training quality and content met my expectations." Median scores improved during step-down trainings (N=66) from 65.0% (55.0-75.0%) at pre-training to 85.0% (75.0- 90.0%) post-training, p<0.0001. The train-the-trainer program successfully achieved its objectives and could serve as a model for regional/global mpox epidemic preparedness/response.

Keywords: Epidemic; One Health; case management; mpox; public outreach.

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Conflict of interest statement

All the authors declare no competeng interests.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
schedule for mpox public outreach and sample collection training in Nigeria and Guinea
Figure 2
Figure 2
mpox pre- and post-training assessment scores among healthcare workers (HCW) and veterinarians in Nigeria and Guinea, N=146; A) by cohort (Nigeria and Guinea); and B) by occupational
Figure 3
Figure 3
feedback of mpox training participants in Nigeria (n=76) and Guinea (n=27) about the course instruction and quality of training materials, N=103
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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