GBC’s Northern Regional correspondent, Joyce Kantam Kolamong was among 125 top journalists from 36 countries, including Africa, Latin America, Asia, Portuguese and French-speaking States, to be recognized at the 2024 Merck Foundation Media Recognition Award in Dubai.
Joyce’s compelling stories earned her second position in the Radio Category for West Africa, under the “More Than A Mother” project: They include, “Breaking Barriers: Unstoppable Hikmatu and Nafisah”, Tender Brides: The Silent Epidemic Ravaging Northern Rural Communities” and “Cries Behind Closed Doors: Horrying Tales of GBV Deepen Calls for Safe Shelters”.
By winning this award, Joyce and Mavis become a member of the prestigious Merck Foundation Alumni, joining a network of esteemed journalists who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to storytelling and journalism excellence.
The recognition highlights her dedication to shedding light on critical issues, such as gender-based violence and women’s empowerment, inspiring meaningful conversations and change.
Chief Executive Officer of Merck Foundation, Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, who doubles as President of “More Than a Mother” Campaign, praised the critical role of media in raising awareness about social and health issues.
She emphasized the importance of media in creating a cultural shift and giving a voice to the voiceless. She noted that media plays a vital role in educating and informing communities about critical health issues, such as diabetes, hypertension, fertility, and gender-based violence.
“Raise awareness about very important conditions that affect our productivity, our economic and social development of our countries. Diabetes and hypertension have become very common condition, even in children, what makes it very sad is that it can be prevented and it can actually alter lifestyle. So if unfortunately you have it, you can manage it. It’s not a disease, it’s a condition” she added.
Dr. Kelej also highlighted the importance of health media training, which provides journalists with the right information and skills to deliver it in a simple and creative way that everyone can understand.
“Everyone wants an information. We go to social media or YouTube and then search and might have wrong information, but you can actually give the right information scientifically and socially, because you are also attending health media training, where you are addressed by very important experts, so you can get the right information and deliver it in a very simple way that everyone can understand it. So I always consider health media training, very important. It is very critical to connect with health partners to give you the right information and you put it in a creative, attractive, simple way”.
The winners were selected from various categories, including print, online, multimedia, TV, and radio.
Dr. Kelej congratulated the winners and encouraged them to exchange knowledge and ideas to benefit their communities. They would become part of the Merck Foundation alumni and champions of health and social issues in their countries and continents.
Miss Kolamong expresses her heartfelt gratitude to GBC for providing her with a platform to showcase her work. She specifically thanked the Producer of ‘Ghana Today’, Ewurabena Paha, for her meticulous editing and for airing her stories on the esteemed GBC flagship programme.
Additionally, she extends her appreciation to her senior colleague, Mavis Offei Acheampong, for introducing her to the prestigious award scheme.
The Media Recognition Awards 2024 under the themes “More Than A Mother” & “Diabetes & Hypertension”, was launched in partnership with African First Ladies.
One Response
Congratulations to the winners and for Making Ghana voice heard