Merck Foundation CEO & DR Congo First Lady announce Winners of their Media Awards to break Infertility Stigma, Support Girl Education and Diabetes- Hypertension awareness
Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo – Merck Foundation, in partnership with the First Lady of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, H.E. Denise Nyakeru Tshisekedi, has announced the winners of the Merck Foundation Africa Media Recognition “More Than a Mother” Awards 2023 and the “Diabetes and Hypertension” Awards 2023.
The awards aim to raise awareness on social and health issues such as breaking infertility stigma, supporting girl education, women empowerment, ending child marriage, ending FGM, and stopping GBV at all levels. Additionally, the awards promote a healthy lifestyle and raise awareness about prevention and early detection of diabetes and hypertension.
The winners were announced during an awards ceremony held via video conference, and Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation, congratulated the winners and encouraged them to continue their outstanding work in raising awareness on critical social and health issues.
The winners of the Merck Foundation “More Than a Mother” Media Recognition Awards 2023 include:
– Jessy NZENGU, (link unavailable), First Position, Online Category
– Cassien Tribunal Aungane, Diplomacy & Development, First Position, Online Category
Winners from West African Countries include:
– Raissa Sambou, The Spectator, Ghana (First Position)
– Emelia Naa Ayeley Aryee, Myjoyonline, Ghana (First Position)
– Mariam Hamzat, Freelancer, Nigeria (Second Position)
– Mariama, Dem, The Gambia (Second Position)
Winners from Southern African Countries include:
– Melody Mupeta, Zambia Daily, Zambia (First Position)
– Moses Mugugunyeki, The Standard, Zimbabwe, (Second Position)
– Gresham Ngwira, Freelancer, Malawi (Second Position)
– Sonja Smith, The Namibian, Namibia (Third Position)
Winners from East African Countries include:
– Marco Maduhu, Nipashe Newspaper, Tanzania (First Position)
– Elizabeth Angira, MT Kenya Times and People Daily, Kenya (First Position)
– Shaban Njia, Nipashe Newspaper, Tanzania (Second Position)
Winners of the Merck Foundation “Diabetes & Hypertension” Media Recognition Awards 2023 include:
– Jennifer Ambolley, Chronicle, Ghana (First Position)
– Godwin Awuni Anafo, Daily Graphic, Ghana (Second Position)
– Odimegwu Onwumere, (link unavailable), Nigeria (First Position)
– Muniratu Akweley Issah, Ghana News Agency, Ghana (Second Position)
– Cecilia Lagba Yada, Ghanaian Times, Ghana (Third Position)
Merck Foundation is additionally rewarding the winners with one-year access to an online educational training program called ‘MasterClass’.
The foundation has also announced the call for applications for the Merck Foundation Africa Media Recognition Awards 2024, with submission deadlines on September 30, 2024, for the “More Than a Mother” awards and October 30, 2024, for the “Diabetes and Hypertension” awards.