Merck Foundation Chief Executive Officer (CEO) meets the 83 Winners of “More Than a Mother” and “Diabetes and Hypertension” Media Awards 2023, in partnership with the First Ladies of Africa

The awards ceremony was held via Videoconference to felicitate all the media award winners

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LUSAKA, Zambia, — Merck Foundation CEO (www.Merck-Foundation.com) announced call for application of 2024 Merck Foundation Media Recognition Awards in partnership with African First Ladies – apply now at submit@merck-foundation.com.Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany, in partnership with the African First Ladies, announced the winners of Merck Foundation Africa Media Recognition “More Than a Mother” Awards 2023 and “Diabetes and Hypertension” Awards 2023. The awards ceremony was held via Videoconference to felicitate all the media award winners.The winners were announced and acknowledged by Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation and President of “More Than a Mother” campaign. The theme of “More Than a Mother” Awards was to raise awareness on any of the following social issues such as: Breaking Infertility Stigma, Supporting Girl Education, Women Empowerment, Ending Child Marriage, Ending FGM, and/or Stopping GBV at all levels and the theme of “Diabetes and Hypertension” Awards was to Promote a Healthy Lifestyle and raise awareness about prevention and early detection of Diabetes and Hypertension in the African countries.Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej expressed, “I am proud to announce the winners. We have 83 winners from 22 African countries in partnership with my dear sisters First Ladies of Africa and Ambassadors of “Merck Foundation More than a Mother”. Congratulations to all our winners.We started our Media Awards in 2017, and year after year we are witnessing a substantial increase in the number of outstanding and regular  entries from many African countries, which is very encouraging for us.All our winners are the Champions of critical and sensitive social and health issues in their communities.It’s truly inspiring to witness how we’re actively involving and engaging everyone, enabling them to be the voice of the voiceless and create a culture shift.I’m delighted to extend a warm welcome as you join the Merck Foundation Alumni. let’s keep raising awareness on social and health together .”Merck Foundation is additionally rewarding the winners by providing them with one year access of an online educational training program called ‘MasterClass’. The MasterClass is an immersive online experience and self-paced learning course that can be accessed anywhere with the internet.Senator Rasha Kelej further added, “We recently met and awarded the winners from Kenya, during my visit to the Nairobi for Merck Foundation Kenya Alumni Summit and Award Ceremony. Moreover, we will soon be meeting the Winners of Ghana, Botswana and Tanzania, during our upcoming visits.””I would also like to announce the Call for Applications for the Merck Foundation Africa Media Recognition Awards 2024 “More Than a Mother” and “Diabetes and Hypertension”. These awards are in partnership with my dear sisters, the African First Ladies who are also the Ambassadors of “Merck Foundation More Than a Mother””, concluded Senator Kelej.Merck Foundation “More Than a Mother” Media Recognition Awards 2023Here are the winners from West African Countries in partnership with The First Lady of The Gambia, H.E. FATOUMATTA BAH-BARROW; and The First Lady of Ghana and H.E. REBECCA AKUFO-ADDO:PRINT CATEGORY WINNERRaissa Sambou, The Spectator, Ghana (First Position)ONLINE CATEGORY WINNERSEmelia Naa Ayeley Aryee, Myjoyonline, Ghana (First Position)Mariam Hamzat, Freelancer, Nigeria (Second Position)Mariama, Dem Star.gm, The Gambia (Second Position)RADIO CATEGORY WINNEREvelyn Kpadeh Seagbeh, New Narratives, Liberia (First Position)Mavis Offei Acheampong, Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), Ghana (Second Position)MULTIMEDIA CATEGORY WINNERSEmmanuel Samani, TV3, Ghana (First Position)Stanley Nii Blewu, TV3, Ghana (Second Position)Here are the Winners from Southern African Countries in partnership with The First Lady of Malawi, H.E. MONICA CHAKWERA; The First Lady of Zambia, H.E. MUTINTA HICHILEMA; The First Lady of Zimbabwe, H.E. Amai Dr. AUXILLIA MNANGAGWA:PRINT CATEGORY WINNERSMelody 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)ONLINE CATEGORY WINNERSMichael Magoronga, Zimpapers, Zimbabwe (First Position)Munyaradzi Blessing Doma, ZimNow, Zimbabwe (Second Position)Caroline Mapando, Africabrief, Malawi (Third Position)RADIO CATEGORY WINNERSCharlotte Nambadja, Desert Radio, Namibia (First Position)Britta Mpata Blantyre, Synod Radio, Malawi (First Position)Sera Tamina, Radio Icengelo, Zambia (Second Position)Monde Chaba, Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation, Zambia (Third Position)MULTIMEDIA CATEGORY WINNERSMirriam Kayemba, CAMNET TV,  Zambia (First Position)Alepher Kasongo, MBC News, Malawi (Second Position)Here are the winners from East African Countries:PRINT CATEGORY WINNERSMarco Maduhu, Nipashe Newspaper, Tanzania (First Position)Elizabeth Angira, MT Kenya Times and People Daily, Kenya (First Position)Shaban Njia, Nipashe Newspaper, Tanzania (Second Position)ONLINE CATEGORY WINNERSMoraa Obiria, Nation Media Group, Kenya (First Position)Isabella Maua Chemosit, The Times, Kenya (Second Position)Aveline Kitomary, Tanzania Standard, Tanzania (Third Position)Sophia Rukwaro, Black Hustlers TV, Kenya (Third Position)Hudson Kuteesa, The New Times, Rwanda (Third Position)Beatrice Philemon Mukocho, The Guardian Newspaper, Tanzania (Third Position)RADIO CATEGORY WINNERSCaren Waraba Sisya, Citizen Radio, Kenya (First Position)Olga Fadhil Lungala, Moshifm Radio, Tanzania (Second Position)Adam Hhando, CG FM, Tanzania (Second Position)Namale Hajara Shahista, CBS FM, Uganda (Third Position)Angela Kezengwa, Citizen Radio, Kenya (Third Position)MULTIMEDIA CATEGORY WINNERWalter Mwesigye, NTV Uganda, Uganda (First Position)Elizabeth Atieno Ochieng, TV 47 KENYA, Kenya (Second Position)Here are the winners from French Speaking African Countries in partnership with The First Lady of Burundi, H.E. ANGELINE NDAYISHIMIYE; The First Lady of Democratic Republic of the Congo, H.E. DENISE NYAKERU TSHISEKEDI:PRINT CATEGORY WINNERKoami Agbetiafa, Societe, Niger (First Position)Astère NDUWAMUNGU, www.lerenouveau.bi, Burundi (Second Position)Traore Brehima, The TOGUNA, Mali (Third Position)ONLINE CATEGORY WINNERSMêmèdé Ambroisine Azododassi, Savoir News, Togo (First Position)Jessy NZENGU, lualabamaprovince.com, DRC (First Position)AYIBE Ablavi Ayélo, SAVOIR NEWS, Togo (Second Position)Tognisse Pugilbert Yannick, DecryptageBenin.com, Benin (Third Position)Haburanimana Gérard, Agaseke.bi, Burundi (Third Position)JEANINE NYABENDA, Ijisho Web Site News TV, Burundi (Third Position)RADIO CATEGORY WINNERSCyriaque NDAYISHIMIYE, Radio TV BUNTU, Burundi (First Position)Edmond Niyonkur, Radio Ubuzima-FM, Burundi (Second Position)MULTIMEDIA CATEGORY WINNERSBahwa Ferdinand, Le Journal.Africa, Burundi (First Position)Amadou BELLO, Balafon Direct, Cameroon (Second Position)Here are the winners from Portuguese Speaking African Countries in partnership with The First Lady of Cabo Verde, H.E. Dr. DÉBORA KATISA CARVALHO:ONLINE CATEGORY WINNERSÂngelo Amaro Semedo, DW África, Cabo Verde (First Position)RADIO CATEGORY WINNERSMaria José Teixeira Veiga Macedo, Rádio de Cabo Verde, Cabo Verde (First Position)MULTIMEDIA CATEGORY WINNERSEdineia Barros, TV Cabo Verde, Cabo Verde (First Position)Merck Foundation “Diabetes & Hypertension” Media Recognition Awards 2023Here are the winners from West African Countries in partnership with The First Lady of Ghana, H.E. REBECCA AKUFO-ADDO:PRINT CATEGORY WINNERJennifer Ambolley, Chronicle, Ghana (First Position)Godwin Awuni Anafo, Daily Graphic, Ghana (Second Position)ONLINE CATEGORY WINNERSOdimegwu Onwumere, thenigerianvoice.com, Nigeria (First Position)Muniratu Akweley Issah, Ghana News Agency, Ghana (Second Position)Cecilia Lagba Yada, Ghanaian Times, Ghana (Third Position)MULTIMEDIA CATEGORY WINNERGrace Hammoah Agyemang, TV3, Ghana (First Position)Here are the Winners from Southern African Countries in partnership with The First Lady of Malawi, H.E. MONICA CHAKWERA; The First Lady of Zambia, H.E. MUTINTA HICHILEMA; The First Lady of Zimbabwe, H.E. Amai Dr. AUXILLIA MNANGAGWA:PRINT CATEGORY WINNEREd-Grant Ndoza, Malawi News Agency, Malawi (First Position)ONLINE CATEGORY WINNERSMaria Kandjungu, Unwrap, Namibia (First Position)Alain Kabinda, Daily News Agency, Zambia (Second Position)Rosalia Hipondoka, DBS Blogposts, Namibia (Third Position)Phillipa Mwazvita Chinhoi, Herald.co, Zimbabwe (Third Position)RADIO CATEGORY WINNERSHenry Haukeya, MBC Radio, Malawi (First Position)Sylviah Chisi, Trans World Radio Malawi (TWR), Malawi (Second Position)Martha Mzumara, Trans World Radio Malawi (TWR), Malawi (Third Position)Here are the winners from East African Countries:PRINT CATEGORY WINNERChristina Stephen Mwakangale, Nipashe, Tanzania (First Position)ONLINE CATEGORY WINNERSLucy John Bosco, Mwananchi Online, Tanzania (First Position)Dorcas Wangira, BBC, Kenya (Second Position)Veronica Romwald Mrema, Freelancer, Tanzania (Third Position)Tulinagwe Alison Malopa, Gazetini, Tanzania (Third Position)RADIO CATEGORY WINNERSMildrine Nafula Sabwami, North Rift Radio FM, Kenya (First Position)Mwanaisha Mohamed Makumbuli, Highlands FM Radio, Tanzania (Second Position)Here are the winners from French Speaking African Countries in partnership with The First Lady of Burundi, H.E. ANGELINE NDAYISHIMIYE; and The First Lady of Democratic Republic of the Congo, H.E. DENISE NYAKERU TSHISEKEDI:PRINT CATEGORY WINNERSMoïse NKURUNZIZA, Le Renouveau du Burundi, Burundi (First Position)ONLINE CATEGORY WINNERSCassien Tribunal Aungane, Diplomacy & Development, DRC (First Position)Akossiwa Agossivi YIBOKOU-MENSAH, SAVOIR NEWS, TOGO (Second Position)Alphonse Julio GADA, GLOBAL NEWS BÉNIN, Benin (Third Position)Petga Tonga Valgadine, lavoixdukoat.com, Cameroon (Third Position)RADIO CATEGORY WINNERSHonorine NININAHAZWE, Burundi National Radio, Burundi  (First Position)Maurice TUNINAHAZIMANA, Radio TV Buntu,          Burundi (Second Position)Rémy RUKUNDO, TV BUNTU, Burundi (Third Position)Here is the winner from Portuguese Speaking African Country in partnership with The First Lady of Mozambique, H.E. ISAURA FERRÃO NYUSI:RADIO CATEGORY WINNERAbdul Ibraimo, Radio of Mozambique, Mozambique (First Position)Details of Merck Foundation Media Awards 2024:1. Merck Foundation Africa Media Recognition “More Than a Mother” Awards 2024Theme for the awards: Breaking Infertility Stigma, Supporting Girl Education, Women Empowerment, Ending Child Marriage, Ending FGM, and/or Stopping GBV at all levels.Who can apply: Journalists from Print, Radio, Online, and Multimedia platforms from the following groups:Southern African CountriesWest African CountriesEast African CountriesFrench Speaking African CountriesPortuguese Speaking African CountriesSubmission deadline: 30th September 2024.2. Merck Foundation Media Recognition “Diabetes & Hypertension” Awards 2024Theme for the awards: Promoting a healthy lifestyle and raising awareness about prevention and early detection of Diabetes and Hypertension.Who can apply: Journalists from Print, Radio, Online, and Multimedia platforms from the following groups:Southern African CountriesWest African CountriesEast African CountriesFrench Speaking African CountriesPortuguese Speaking African CountriesLatin American CountriesAsian CountriesSubmission deadline: 30th October 2024.All entries are to be submitted to submit@merck-foundation.com.Kindly note, sending multiple relevant entries for both the categories will increase the chances of winning the award.Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Merck Foundation.Media contact: Mehak Handa  Community Awareness Program Manager  +91 9310087613/ +91 9319606669   mehak.handa@external.merckgroup.comJoin the conversation on our social media platforms below and let your voice be heard: Facebook: https://apo-opa.co/4biBkex X (Twitter): https://apo-opa.co/4bfrI4p Threads: https://apo-opa.co/4biBl25 YouTube: https://apo-opa.co/3yjN7dY Instagram: https://apo-opa.co/4bnIuOU Flickr: https://apo-opa.co/44Iyz3z Website: www.Merck-Foundation.com Download the Merck Foundation App: https://apo-opa.co/44G8mCN