On March 21, 2023, at least 30 journalists from Africa were recognized by Merck Foundation for comprehensive health stories each of them worked on from their different home countries.
Merck Foundation Media Recognition Awards 2022 recognized journalists from Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania; Togo, Rwanda, Nigeria, DRC and Ghana.
Other awards winners are from Namibia, Zambia, Burundi, among other countries.
Each of the winners had done stories focusing on “More Than a Mother”, and “Diabetes and Hypertension”.
The awards ceremony took place through videoconferencing and was officiated by Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation and President of the “More than a Mother” Campaign.
Some of the winners include Veronica Romwald Mrema of Matukionamaisha (media house) from Tanzania. She won first prize for her story on Diabetes and Hypertension. In the same category, Awor Isabella Olong of TND News, Uganda also won for a story on diabetes and hypertension in Lango sub-region, and her winning story can be read here.
Memede Ambroisine Azododassi from Togo, working for Savoir News was recognized for her story in the same category.
Cassien Tribunal Aungane from DRC received a special award prize. He works for Diplomacy and Development media in the same country.
Walter Mwesigye of NTV Uganda received a special award prize. Mwesigye, like Aungane’s special awards, was in recognition of their constant achievements by the Merck Foundation.
“It (Merck award) is my best achievement ever in media. This motivates me to do more, and my pledge to the community I serve is that I will continue to let their voices be heard, to tell their stories in a way that they will one day benefit from it,” Awor told her newsroom (TND News) post-award.
“I’m thankful to Merck Foundation and Dr. Rasha Kelej together with her team for recognizing journalists across the continent,” she added. Also, the rest of the winners thanked Merck Foundation for the awards in their “recognition short speeches”.
Specifically, the objectives of the March 21 online event, according to Merck Foundation was to congratulate winners and welcome them as Merck Foundation Alumni, exchange ideas and views in a pan-African forum stimulating a respectful dialogue on the critical role that media plays to sensitize communities on pertinent issues in Africa, among other key issues.
Also Read: TND News Journalist wins Merck Foundation Media Awards
Dr. Rasha Kelej told winners to continue advocating for more stories and not to write only for the awards. “I’m always observing and know who continues and who is not. Those who continue will always win with us,” she said.
“This is my invitation, I hope that you join me in my advocacy journey which I started in 2012 and be part of it and be an important part of our community and Merck Foundation community, media, and fashion designers…. So, thank you very much and Big Congratulations,” Dr. Rasha added.