Africa-Press – Sierra-Leone. Save the Children Sierra Leone, in partnership with the National Public Health Agency (NPHA), have concluded a two-day dialogue workshop in Freetown, organized to engage schoolchildren on MPOX (Monkeypox) awareness and public health advocacy.
Hosted at the Brookfields Hotel, the workshop brought together pupils from various Western Area schools. The aim was to equip those young participants with essential knowledge on MPOX and empower them as ambassadors in their communities.
Highlighting the importance of the initiative, Ms. Victoria Squire, Advocacy and Campaign Manager at Save the Children, expressed appreciation for NPHA’s collaboration, stating, “This workshop aims to empower children to serve as ambassadors in their schools and communities, spreading key messages about the prevention and impact of MPOX.”
Ms. Squire emphasized the significance of involving children in areas where MPOX has been particularly prevalent.
Save the Children’s Deputy Director of Operations, Abdul Akim Sheriff, reiterated the organization’s commitment to working alongside the Ministry of Health to safeguard vulnerable populations, especially children. “Children must be equipped with the right knowledge and tools to help mitigate the spread of MPOX,” he affirmed.
The workshop featured a presentation by Mrs. Sia Mansaray, Deputy Behavioural Change Manager at NPHA, who provided a detailed overview of the MPOX outbreak. She noted, “Since the first confirmed case in Sierra Leone in January, we have recorded 242 cases as of April 14,” highlighting the government’s ongoing efforts to manage the outbreak through coordinated health interventions.
A Behavioural Change Specialist at NPHA, Samuel Josiah, facilitated a session focusing on communication skills. He encouraged students to engage in peer education through interactive discussions and dramatizations, stating, “You are not just participants today, you are now ambassadors. Share what you’ve learned to help protect your peers.” His presentation underscored the importance of hygiene practices and protective measures.
The first day concluded with a Question and Answer session where students sought clarity on transmission and prevention, followed by a skit by the Children’s Forum Network that dramatized the seriousness and preventability of MPOX.
On the second day, participants recapped previous learning and engaged in further activities. Alieu Tommy, lead of the RCCE (Risk Communication and Community Engagement) Program, addressed misinformation and public understanding of MPOX, stressing the need for accurate reporting and advocacy driven by youth.
The workshop concluded with performances emphasizing vaccination and disease prevention, followed by group work where pupils developed action plans for conveying MPOX messages in their schools. A group photograph marked the end of the workshop and symbolized the beginning of peer-led education on MPOX.
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