Merck Foundation on Thursday night hosted its 2022 Merck Foundation Media Awards.
The awards recognized media practitioners from Kenya that have played a key role in amplifying their vision to transform public healthcare.
Journalists who won the awards were picked from a host of submissions that focused on highlighting issues around infertility stigma, girl child education, ending child marriage, Gender Based Violence (GBV) and Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).
Medimax’s Mercy Tyra and Beldeen Waliaula of the Standard Media Group were among the winners.
Over 10 doctors who have been through the foundation’s scholarship program were also awarded during the event held at a Nairobi Hotel.
In her address, Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Merck Foundation said they have been able to provide at least 1,480 scholarships across the globe, 70 per cent of which went to African doctors.
“We have provided more than 125 scholarships in Kenya in critical specialities such as – Oncology, Embryology, Diabetes, Preventative Cardiovascular Medicine, Endocrinology, Sexual and Reproductive Medicine, Gastroenterology, Respiratory Medicine, Acute Medicine, Biotechnology of Human Assisted Reproduction and Embryology, Critical Care, Psychiatry, Internal Medicine, Urology and many more,” said Dr Rasha.
She further affirmed that Merck Foundation would continue to support more doctors so as to “create a stronger platform of skilled medical professionals and strengthen the public healthcare system in Kenya and the rest of Africa”.
Merck Foundation TV program
Aside from the media awards, the event was also used to release the Merck Foundation TV program ‘Our Africa’.
‘Our Africa’ is a pan-African TV program that is conceptualized, produced, directed, and co-hosted by the foundation’s CEO.
The program features African Fashion Designers, Singers, and prominent experts from various domains with the aim of raising awareness and creating a culture shift across Africa on issues such as diabetes, ending child marriage, supporting girl education, women’s empowerment, stopping GBV, ending FGM, and breaking infertility stigma, among other social and health issues affecting the continent.
Commending on the TV program, Dr Rasha said, “I strongly believe in the important role that media plays to influence our society to create a cultural shift with the aim to break the stigma around infertility, raising awareness about infertility prevention and empowering girls and women through education.”
The TV program will be broadcast every Saturday at 5:00 PM and every Wednesday at 6:30 AM on Kenya’s KTN Home, starting from May 6th, 2023.
The Merck Foundation boss and co-host Brian Mulondo from Uganda will host the show.
