Merck Foundation announced 67 winners of Merck Foundation Mask up with Care Media Awards 2021 to raise awareness about Coronavirus

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India]/ Accra [Ghana], January 13 (ANI/BusinessWire India): Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany in partnership with African First Ladies announced the winners of Merck Foundation "Mask up with Care" Media Recognition Awards 2021 with the aim to raise awareness about Coronavirus in Africa.
The awards were announced by Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation and President of Merck Foundation 'More Than a Mother' together with African First Ladies, who are also the Ambassadors of 'Merck Foundation More Than a Mother'. They congratulated the winners and acknowledged their efforts to sensitize their communities during the global pandemic.
Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation and One of the Most Influential Africans 2019, 2020 & 2021 emphasized, "Together with my dear sisters, the African First Ladies, we congratulate the winners of Merck Foundation 'Mask up with Care' Media Recognition Awards 2021. I would like to thank the Media Fraternity who participated and a big congratulations to all the winners! I strongly believe that media plays a very important role to raise awareness, educating communities and presenting relevant & precise information. In this time of the COVID-19 global pandemic, the media has played an exceptional role in spreading awareness about the situation, separating myths from facts at all levels."
The theme of the awards was: Raise awareness on how to adapt best protection measures such as wearing masks to show people how to care for and love their family & community; to encourage them to choose to vaccinate when it is available and to sensitize them to support healthcare workers who are at the forefront of COVID-19 pandemic.
Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej emphasized, "I am very happy with the work showcased by all our winners; hence it gives me immense joy to announce that 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 that can be accessed anywhere with the Internet. I encourage all the winners to also be the storytellers and the voice or the voiceless so that they become Merck Foundation Advocates to help us to raise awareness on health and social issues like eliminating infertility stigma, supporting girl education, ending FGM and GBV, etc. I also welcome them as valuable members of 'Merck Foundation Alumni'."
Merck Foundation "Mask up with Care" Media Recognition Awards 2021 were announced for African, Latin American, and Asian countries.
Here is the list of Award Winners:
Winners from Southern African Countries in partnership with The First Lady of Namibia, H.E. MONICA GEINGOS; The First Lady of Malawi, H.E. MONICA CHAKWERA; The First Lady of Zimbabwe, H.E. AUXILLIA MNANGAGWA:
SOUTHERN AFRICAN COUNTRIES
PRINT CATEGORY WINNERS:
FIRST Position:
Solly Johane, Incredible Multi Investment, BOTSWANA
SECOND Position:
Silence Mugadzaweta, NewsDay, ZIMBABWE
ONLINE CATEGORY WINNERS:
FIRST Position:
Adolf Kaure, Namibia Media Holdings, NAMIBIA
Muchaneta Chimuka, Zimpapers Covid-19 Newsletter, ZIMBABWE
Tendai Rupapa, The Herald, ZIMBABWE
SECOND Position:
Elizabeth Sitotombe, The Patriot Newspaper, ZIMBABWE
Nevson Mpofu, www.panafricanvisions.com, ZIMBABWE
THIRD Position:
Silence Mugadzaweta, NewsDay, ZIMBABWE
Veronica Gwaze, Sunday Mail, ZIMBABWE
Shireen van Wyk, shayblogger, NAMIBIA
MULTIMEDIA CATEGORY WINNERS:
FIRST Position:
Effie M. Mphande, Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation, ZAMBIA
Peter Chivhima, ZIMBABWE BROADCASTING CORPORATION, ZIMBABWE
Mandy Pondani and Howard Dzingomvera, Times Media Group, MALAWI
SECOND Position:
MARIE-INNOCENCIA SEGULA, MBC-TV, MALAWI
RADIO CATEGORY WINNERS:
FIRST Position:
Gaone Lorato Kgaswanyane-Khumomatlhare, Gabz FM, BOTSWANA
Prudence Chibale Siabana, Radio Phoenix, ZAMBIA
SECOND Position:
Charles Chindongo, MBC TV, MALAWI
Here are the winners from West African Countries in partnership with The First Lady of The Gambia, H.E. FATOUMATTA BAH-BARROW; The First Lady of Ghana, H.E. REBECCA AKUFO-ADDO; 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:
FIRST Position:
Dzifa Tetteh Tay, The Spectator, GHANA
SECOND Position:
Ama Tekyiwaa Ampadu Agyema, New Times Corporation (Ghanaian Times/The Spectator), GHANA
Alfred Nii Arday Ankrah, The Spectator Newspaper, GHANA
THIRD Position:
Efia Akese, The Mirror, GHANA
Benedicta Gyimaah Folley, Ghanian Times, GHANA
ONLINE CATEGORY WINNERS:
FIRST Position:
Prosper Kwame Kuorsoh, Ghana New Agency, GHANA
SECOND Position:
Prince Kwame Tamakloe, Rainbow Radio Int and Zami Report, GHANA
Abiodun Azi, News Agency of Nigeria, NIGERIA
THIRD Position:
Ishmael Sallieu Koroma, Pan African Visions, SIERRA LEONE
Mavis Offei Acheampong, GHANA BROADCASTING CORPORATION (GBC), GHANA
Never G Lomo, newspuplictrust.com, LIBERIA
RADIO CATEGORY
FIRST Position:
Mavis Offei Acheampong, GHANA BROADCASTING CORPORATION (GBC), GHANA
MULTIMEDIA CATEGORY WINNERS:
FIRST Position:
Ndey Ceesay, Eyeafrica Tv, GAMBIA
WENDY LARYEA, TV3 Network Ltd., GHANA
SECOND Position:
Clara Mlano, Ghana Broadasting Corporation, GHANA
THIRD Position:
Beatrice Spio-Garbrah, TV3, GHANA
Here are the winners from East African Countries:
EAST AFRICAN COUNTRIES
PRINT CATEGORY WINNERS:
FIRST Position:
Evance Ng'ingo, Tanzania Standard Newspaper, TANZANIA
ONLINE CATEGORY
FIRST Position:
Nelson Mandela, PML Daily, UGANDA
SECOND Position:
Dorcas Wangir, CITIZEN TV, KENYA
Delphine Maombi, newtimes.co.rw, RWANDA
THIRD Position:
Tulinagwe A. Malopa, Dar es Salaam, TANZANIA
MULTIMEDIA CATEGORY
FIRST Position:
Ruth Kadide Keah, Radio Rahma, KENYA
SECOND Position:
Mercy Tyra Murengu, Stringer for Voice of America, KENYA
THIRD Position:
Zainab Mohammed, TV47 Kenya, KENYA
RADIO CATEGORY
FIRST Position:
Veronica Romwald Mrema, www.boresha.online, TANZANIA
SECOND Position:
Asha Bekidusa, Bahari FM, KENYA
Mwanaisha Makumbuli, Highlands Fm RADIO, TANZANIA
THIRD Position:
Adam Gabriel Hhando, CG FM RADIO, TANZANIA
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 Central African Republic, H.E. BRIGITTE TOUADERA:
AFRICAN FRENCH SPEAKING COUNTRIES
PRINT CATEGORY
FIRST Position:
Koami Agbetiafa, Niger Inter Hebdo, NIGER
ONLINE CATEGORY
FIRST Position:
Cassien Tribunal Aungane, Diplomacy & Development, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
Jean-Bosco NTACONAYIGIZE, Radio TV Buntu, BURUNDI
Arsene-Jonathan Mosseavo, lanoca.over-blog.com, CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
SECOND Position:
Jessy NZENGU, Palmier community Radio Television channel broadcasting, DRC
Brehima Traore, alert-mali.com, MALI
THIRD Position:
Alphonse Julio Gada, Global News/Directeur de Publication, BENIN
RADIO CATEGORY
FIRST Position:
Remy Rukundo, RADIO TV BUNTU, BURUNDI
Jeanine Nyabenda, Ijisho Web Site News TV, BURUNDI
Rosemathe, Hope Chanel Television Goma, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
Matthias Kabuya Tshilumba, Radio Television Debout Kasai (RTDK) Mbuji-Mayi, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
SECOND Position:
Ndayishimiye Cyriaque, Radio TV BUNTU, BURUNDI
Ouedraogo Boureim, Radio the Voice of the Farmer, BURKINA FASO
Here are the winners from African Portuguese Speaking Countries in partnership with The First Lady of Mozambique, H.E. Mrs. ISAURA FERRAO NYUSI
AFRICAN PORTUGUESE SPEAKING COUNTRIES
RADIO CATEGORY
FIRST Position:
Abdul Remane Alifate Ibraimo, Radio a voz do islam ( cidade da Matola), MOZAMBIQUE
MULTIMEDIA CATEGORY
FIRST Position:
Hugo Neves Chauque Firmino, Grupo SOICO, MOZAMBIQUE
LATIN-AMERICAN COUNTRIES
ONLINE CATEGORY
FIRST Position:
Juliana Arreguy, UOL, BRAZIL
Ana Catalina Baldrich Chaparro, RCN RAdio y LA FM, COLOMBIA
ASIAN COUNTRIES
PRINT CATEGORY
FIRST Position:
Parikshit Nirbhay, Amar Ujala, INDIA
SECOND Position:
Hemwati Nandan Rajaura, Hindustan Newspaper, INDIA
ONLINE CATEGORY
FIRST Position:
Amrita Didyala, The Times of India, INDIA
SECOND Position:
Payal Banerjee, PTI, INDIA
THIRD Position:
Milan Rijal, Online Khabar, INDIA
MULTIMEDIA CATEGORY
FIRST Position:
Pooja Makkar, ZEE NEWS, INDIA
"I am excited to announce the Call for Applications for the Merck Foundation "Mask up with Care" Media Recognition Awards 2022. I am looking forward to the entries from the Media Fraternity across Africa, Latin America, and Asia this year to write meaningful stories and reports to raise awareness and sensitize our communities about COVID-19 pandemic through taking measures such as continuing to wear masks to show love & care to the community, encouraging the community to choose vaccination and support healthcare workers who are at the forefront during this pandemic. We shall soon share details on these awards for the upcoming year, 2022," concluded Dr. Rasha Kelej.
About 'Merck Foundation More Than a Mother' campaign
"Merck Foundation More Than a Mother" is a strong movement that aims to empower infertile women through access to information, education and change of mind-sets. This powerful campaign supports governments in defining policies to enhance access to regulated, safe, effective and equitable fertility care solutions. It defines interventions to break the stigma around infertile women and raises awareness about infertility prevention, management and male infertility. In partnership with African First Ladies, Ministries of Health, Information, Education & Gender, academia, policymakers, International fertility societies, media and art, the initiative also provides training for fertility specialists and embryologists to build and advance fertility care capacity in Africa and developing countries.
With "Merck Foundation More Than a Mother", we have initiated a cultural shift to de-stigmatize infertility at all levels: By improving awareness, training local experts in the fields of fertility care and media, building advocacy in cooperation with African First Ladies and women leaders and by supporting childless women in starting their own small businesses. It's all about giving every woman the respect and the help she deserves to live a fulfilling life, with or without a child.
The Ambassadors of "Merck Foundation More Than a Mother" are:

Merck Foundation launched new innovative initiatives to sensitize local communities about infertility prevention, male infertility with the aim to break the stigma of infertility and empowering infertile women as part of Merck Foundation More than a Mother COMMUNITY AWARENESS CAMPAIGN, such as;
'Merck Foundation More than a Mother' Africa Media Recognition Awards and Health Media Training
'Merck Foundation More than a Mother' Fashion Awards
'Merck Foundation More than a Mother' Film Awards
'Merck Foundation More than a Mother' Song Awards
Local songs with local artists to address the cultural perception of infertility and how to change it
Children storybook, localized for each country
Click on the link below to Download Merck Foundation App
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=de.merck.foundation&hl=en
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Website: www.merck-foundation.com
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