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The Western Rural District Health Management Team recently held an orientation for student peer educators to help raise awareness about Mpox prevention on university campuses.
The session brought together student volunteers from Milton Margai Technical University and Fourah Bay College. Participants showed strong interest and a clear sense of responsibility, ready to support health education efforts within their schools and social spaces.
During the session, the students shared why they joined the initiative. Some spoke about the need to protect their peers with timely information. Others said they wanted to help prevent misinformation and encourage early reporting without fear or stigma.
They asked practical questions about how to tell Mpox apart from other illnesses, how to raise awareness without causing panic, and how to support fellow students who might be afraid to report symptoms. Their engagement shaped the flow of the session and pointed to common concerns among students.
Dr. Masuba, the District Medical Officer, opened the session. He spoke about the role young people can play in early prevention and said students are well placed to reach others on campus.
Dr. James Bangura also addressed the group. He reminded the students that their age group faces a higher risk of exposure and encouraged them to commit fully to the peer education process.
Miss Rachael A. Kuyembeh from the National Public Health Agency and Mr. Edward Metzger from RCCE led the training. They guided students through ways to speak clearly about Mpox, share accurate information, and lead awareness activities at their institutions. The session focused on confidence building and effective communication.
The orientation is part of broader public health efforts to support early prevention through student-led outreach. The students are expected to begin sensitization activities on their campuses in the coming weeks.
