Merck Foundation and African First Ladies Celebrate the Winners of “Stay at Home” Media Awards

Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany announced the winners of “Stay at Home” Media Recognition Awards for African Countries. The theme of the awards was ‘Raising Awareness on how to Stay Safe and Keep Physically and Mentally Healthy during Coronavirus Lockdown’ with the aim to separate facts from myths and misconceptions. The “Stay at Home” Media Recognition Awards were introduced in partnership with African First Ladies of Ghana, Nigeria, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Malawi, Namibia, Niger, Guinea Conakry, Burundi, Central African Republic (C.A.R.), Chad, Zimbabwe, Zambia, The Gambia, Liberia and Congo Brazzaville, Angola and Mozambique.

The Merck Foundation Media Awards Committee has further introduced a second and a third position and selected more than one winner, on some occasions, for each of the Four Categories from all the regions.

The Merck Foundation, established in 2017, is the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany, aims to improve the health and wellbeing of people and advance their lives through science and technology. Their efforts are primarily focused on improving access to quality and equitable healthcare solutions in underserved communities, building healthcare and scientific research capacity and empowering people in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) with a special focus on women and youth.

“The valuable contribution from the winners in sensitizing their respective communities about COVID 19 has encouraged us to additionally reward them all to become Merck Foundation Alumni and provide them with one-year access to an online educational training program called “MasterClass”. The MasterClass is an immersive online experience and self-paced learning course in English that can be accessed anywhere with the Internet. This is to motivate passionate journalists to continue writing and advocating for social, economic and health issues across their countries”, added Dr. Rasha Kelej.

Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation emphasizes, “I am very proud of our winners. We received a tremendous response from African journalists in form of their entries. I truly believe that Media plays a crucial role in educating and sensitizing our communities about health and sensitive issues such as COVID-19, therefore, through the awards, we are recognizing the distinguished reportage and the exceptional work of journalists who frequently covered this topic in their countries”.

Here are the winners from Southern African Countries in partnership with The First Lady of Malawi, H.E. MONICA CHAKWERA; The First Lady of Namibia, H.E. MONICA GEINGOS; The First Lady of Zimbabwe, H.E. AUXILLIA MNANGAGWA:

Southern African Countries

Online Category Winners:

First Position:

• Tendai Rupapa – The Herald, ZIMBABWE 
• Keletso Thobega – Botswana Guardian & The Midweek Sun, BOTSWANA 
• June Shimuoshili – Unwrap.online, NAMIBIA

Second Position:

Faith Mzungu-Vilakati – Daily News, ESWATINI 

Andrew Mambondiyani –  The African Argument, ZIMBABWE 

Third Position:

Mercy Malikwa – MW Nation, MALAWI 

Print Category Winners:

First Position:

Adolf Kaure – Namibia Media Holdings, NAMIBIA 

Henry Sinyangwe – Zambia Daily Mail, ZAMBIA

Second Position:

Violet Mengo – Zambia Daily Mail, ZAMBIA

Bridget Mananavire – Independent Senior Reporter, ZIMBABWE

Third Position

Cliff Chiduku – News Day, ZAMBIA

Multimedia Category Winners:

First Position:

Abdullah Vawda  –  LENZ TV, SOUTH AFRICA 

Selima Henock – Namibian Broadcasting Corporation, NAMIBIA

Second Position:

Denver Kisting – Namibian Broadcasting Corporation, NAMIBIA 

Aston Gondwe – Malawi Broadcasting Corporation, MALAWI

Radio Category Winners:

First Position:

Rachel Nghimulitete – Namibian Broadcasting Cooperation, NAMIBIA 

Second Position:

Jo Jackson – The Children’s Radio, SOUTH AFRICA

Aunyango Nkhoma – Zodiak Broadcasting Station, MALAWI 

Third Position:

Prudence Siabana – Radio Phoenix, ZAMBIA 

Here are the winners from West African Countries in partnership with The First Lady of The Gambia, H. E. FATOUMATTA BAHBARROW and The First Lady of Liberia, H.E. CLAR MARIE WEAH:

West African Countries

Online Category Winners:

First Position:

Alieu Ceesay – Q TV, GAMBIA

Second Position:

Hawa Dolly – Liberia News Agency, LIBERIA 

Print Category Winners:

First Position:

Ishmael Sallieu Koroma – Concord Times, SIERRA LEONE

Here are the winners from East African Countries:

East African Countries

Online Category Winners:

First Position:

Hillary Orinde – Standard Media Group, KENYA

Second Position:

• Arnold Kwizera – CNBC Africa, RWANDA

Third Position:

• Geoffrey Kamadi – Scientific African, KENYA

Print Category Winners:

First Position:

• Esther Oluka – Daily Monitor, UGANDA

Second Position:

• Veronica Romwald Mrema – Jamvi La Habari, TANZANIA
• Lydia Atieno Barasa – The New Times, RWANDA

Third Position:

• Evelyn Makena Gatobu – People Daily, KENYA

Multimedia Category Winners:

First Position:

• Mashirima Kapombe – Citizen TV, KENYA
• Dorcas Wangira – Citizen TV, KENYA

Second Position:

• Daniel Sebakijje – NBS TV, UGANDA

Radio Category Winners:

First Position:

• Mwanaisha Makumbuli – Highlands FM Radio, TANZANIA

Second Position:

• Kigongo Issa – Radio Bilal, UGANDA

Here are the winners from French-speaking African Countries in partnership with The First Lady of Central African Republic (CAR), H.E. BRIGITTE TOUADERA; The First Lady of Burundi, H.E. ANGELINE NDAYISHIMIYE; The First Lady of Niger, H.E. AÏSSATA ISSOUFOU MAHAMADOU:

French Speaking African Countries

Online Category Winners:

First Position:

• Arsène-Jonathan Mosseavo – Blog Lanoca, C.A.R.,
• Abdel Aziz Hali – La Presse de, TUNISIA

Second Position:

• Alphonse Julio – Global News, BENIN
• Boris Esono Nwenfor – Pan African Vision, CAMEROON

Third Position:

• Elise Nandrasanela – L’Express de Madagascar, MADAGASCAR
• Bahwa Ferdinand – Le Journal.Africa, BURUNDI

Print Category Winners:

First Position:

• Issa Moussa – Niger Times, NIGER

Second Position:

• Koami Agbetiafa – Niger Le Républicain, NIGER

Radio Category Winners:

First Position:

• Salissou kaka – Saraounia FM, NIGER
• Boussanga Bissa – Radio Voix Du Paysan, BURKINA FASO

Second Position:

• Mokwe Welisane Epse Nkeng Ngoneh – Cameroon Radio Television, CAMEROON

Here are the winners from Portuguese-speaking African Countries in partnership with The First Lady of Angola, H.E. ANA DIAS LOURENÇO:

Portuguese Speaking African Countries

Online Category Winners:

First Position:

• Cornelio Rosa – Televisão de Moçambique, MOZAMBIQUE

Print Category Winners:

First Position:

• César Silveira – Valor Econômico, ANGOLA
• Evelina Muchanga Mavie – Sociedade do Notícias, MOZAMBIQUE

Second Position:

• Lídia Manuel Cossa – Jornal Dossiers & Factos, MOZAMBIQUE

Third Position:

• Frederico Lucas Jamisse Mossigueja – Jornal domingo-Sociedade do Notícias, MOZAMBIQUE

Multimedia Category Winners:

First Position:

• Abdul Remane Alifate Ibraimo – TV Surdo, MOZAMBIQUE

Second Position:

• Pascoal Malate – Televisão de Moçambique, MOZAMBIQUE

Radio Category Winners:

First Position:

• Jeremias Mondlane – Radio Mozambique, MOZAMBIQUE

Second Position:

• Sumali Gilberto Sumagil Picaires – Radio Mozambique, MOZAMBIQUE

Third Position:

Nelson Mainato – Radio Mozambique, MOZAMBIQUE 

The quality of work was impressive; therefore, the Merck Foundation Media Awards Committee reviewed the entries from four categories; Online, Print, Radio and Multimedia; under the following groups: 1) East African Countries, 2) West African Countries, 3) Southern African Countries, 4) French Speaking African Countries and 5) Portuguese speaking African countries.

Here’s a link to the video presentation: