Raising awareness about infant mortality

On April 8, approximately 75 East Carolina University students participated in Preconception Peer Educator (PPE) program training to raise awareness among college students about infant mortality and its causes.
The Preconception Educating Pirates (PEP) squad took part in the PPE training which uses a national peer education curriculum to equip college students with targeted health messages to share on campuses and in their communities. PPE works with the Office of Minority Health to eliminate health disparities by generating infant mortality awareness and prevention using preconception and inter-conception health messages.
The training coincided with National Public Health Week (April 3-9) and the 100^th anniversary of the Pitt County Health Department. Data shows that Pitt County ranks 10^th out of the state’s 100 counties for infant mortality.
ECU’s Department of Health Education and Promotion in the College of Health and Human Performance sponsored the event. For more information, visit https://www.minorityhealth.hhs.gov/omh/content.aspx?ID=10239&lvl=3&lvlID=9

Students gathered for a group photo after the training program.
(contributed photo)