Very proud to recognize and appreciate professional journalists who became the voice of the voiceless and the storytellers of infertile women and break the stigma around them and also raised awareness about male infertility

Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany announced the winners of ‘Merck Foundation More Than a Mother’ Africa Media Recognition Awards 2020. The awards were announced by Merck Foundation CEO in partnership with the First Ladies of Zimbabwe, Zambia, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Niger, Namibia, Mozambique, Malawi, Liberia, Guinea Conakry, Ghana, The Gambia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Congo Brazzaville, Chad, Central African Republic, Burundi, and Botswana, who are also the Ambassadors of ‘Merck Foundation More Than a Mother’.

Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation, President ‘Merck More Than a Mother and African Woman of the Year 2020 celebrated the winners saying “Big congratulations to all the winners of ‘Merck Foundation More Than a Mother’ Africa Media Recognition Awards 2020. First, I’d like to thank my dear sisters, First ladies of Africa for their support as Ambassadors to make this award a great success. I am very proud to recognize and appreciate professional journalists who became the voice of the voiceless and the storytellers of infertile women and break the stigma around them and also raised awareness about male infertility. As you all know I strongly believe in the critical role that media and art play to create a culture shift and raise awareness about health, cultural and sensitive issues such as infertility stigma. I welcome all the winners to be member in our Merck Foundation Alumni to work closely with us to empower women and girls at all levels”.

Merck Foundation received a great response from African journalists in the form of several excellent entries. The ‘Merck Foundation More Than A Mother’ Awards Committee decided to create three Groups of Awards from English speaking countries. Hence, the six groups are: 1) Southern African Countries, 2) East African Countries, 3) West African Countries, 4) African French Speaking Countries, 5) Ghana, and 6) Zambia. We did not receive any entries from Portuguese speaking countries this year for this specific award.

The ‘Merck Foundation More Than A Mother’ Awards Committee further introduced a second and a third position and selected more than one winner in some categories. This was due to the high quality of work received and to encourage more talented and passionate media representatives across all media formats to reach their potential and be a beneficial instrument to address health, cultural and sensitive issues in the country.

Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej, Member of the Egyptian Senate (2020- 2025), Most Influential African (2019, 2020) and African Woman of the Year 2020 added, “I am happy to announce that, encouraged by the valuable contribution from the winners, Merck Foundation is additionally rewarding the winners by providing 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.

I encourage the winners to be the ‘Merck Foundation More Than A Mother Advocate’ to further raise awareness about infertility and eliminate the stigma around it. I also welcome them as valuable members of ’Merck Foundation Alumni’”.

Here is the list of Award Winners:

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; and The First Lady of Zimbabwe, H.E. AUXILLIA MNANGAGWA:

SOUTHERN AFRICAN COUNTRIES

PRINT CATEGORY WINNERS:

FIRST Position:
• Roselyne Sachiti, The Herald Newspaper, ZIMBABWE
SECOND Position:
• Memory Kutengule, Malawi News Agency, MALAWI
• Mugugunye Moses, The Standard, ZIMBABWE
THIRD Position:
• Patrick Musir, The AfroNews, ZIMBABWE
• Takudzwa Chihambakwe, Zimpapers Group, ZIMBABWE
SPECIAL AWARD FOR A NOVEL
• Nyasha Clementine Rwodzi, ZIMBABWE
ONLINE CATEGORY WINNERS:

FIRST Position:
• Sharon Kavhu, The Southern Times, NAMIBIA
• Gracious Mugovera, The Patriot, ZIMBABWE
SECOND Position:
• Happy Njalam’mano, Zodiak Broadcasting Station (ZBS), MALAWI
THIRD Position:
• John Manzongo, The Herald, ZIMBABWE
MULTIMEDIA CATEGORY WINNERS:

FIRST Position:
• Abel Dzobo, HELA TV, ZIMBABWE
SECOND Position:
• Rosa Teixeira, Independent Journalist, NAMIBIA
RADIO CATEGORY WINNERS:

FIRST Position:
• Linda Banda, Chanco Community Radio, MALAWI
• Veronika Haulenga-Haufiku, Omulunga Radio, Future Group, NAMIBIA
• Tashie Masawi, ZBC Radio Station Classic 263, ZIMBABWE
SECOND Position:
• Mathilde Ndinelao Hinanifa, Independent Journalist, NAMIBIA
• Ikemisetseng Marou, Radio Lesotho, LESOTHO
• Rutendo Makuti, ZBC Radio Zimbabwe, ZIMBABWE
THIRD Position:
• Memory Nkwe Ndhlovu, ZBC Radio Station Classic 263, ZIMBABWE
Here are the winners from West African Countries in partnership with The First Lady of Liberia, H.E. CLAR MARIE WEAH; and The First Lady of Nigeria, H.E. Dr. AISHA MUHAMMADU BUHARI:

WEST AFRICAN COUNTRIES

PRINT CATEGORY WINNERS:
• Chioma Obinna, Vanguard Media Limited, NIGERIA
ONLINE CATEGORY WINNERS:

FIRST Position:
• Martins Ifijeh, ThisDay Newspapers, NIGERIA
SECOND Position:
• Never G Lomo, New Public Trust, LIBERIA
• Chinedu Asadu, Cable Newspaper Limited, NIGERIA
RADIO CATEGORY
• Abubakar Sulaiman, Sawaba FM 104.9 Hadejia, NIGERIA
Here are the winners from East African Countries:

EAST AFRICAN COUNTRIES

ONLINE CATEGORY
• Sharon Kantengwa, The New Times, RWANDA
MULTIMEDIA CATEGORY
• Walter Mwesigye, NTV, UGANDA
RADIO CATEGORY
• Mercy Tyra Murengu, Upendo FM, KENYA
Here are the winners from African French Speaking 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; The First Lady of Guinea Conakry, H.E. CONDÉ DJENE; and The First Lady of Niger, H.E. AÏSSATA ISSOUFOU MAHAMADOU:

FRENCH SPEAKING AFRICAN COUNTRIES

PRINT CATEGORY

FIRST Position:
• Richard TAMONE, Le Standard, GUINEA
SECOND Position:
• Koami Agbetiafa, Le Républicain, NIGER
ONLINE CATEGORY

FIRST Position:
• Lokale Odia Prisca, ACTUALITE.CD, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
SECOND Position:
• Ndèye Fatou Diery Diagne, dierysquare.blogspot.com, SENEGAL