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Spiked Online Media’s Health Correspondent, Catherine Mwauyakufa Murombedzi was the outstanding HIV reporter under the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) following a series of articles published on the website that spotlights efforts by the organisation in pursuit of ending AIDS by 2030.
Murombedzi’s award comes hard on the heels of yet another huge accolade won by the Editor of Spiked Online Media, Mr. Byron Adonis Mutingwende, who on the 1st of December 2022 on the commemoration of World AIDS Day, was accorded the First Prize in the 2021 Media Awards online category by the National AIDS Council (NAC) for consistent and accurate reporting on HIV and AIDS issues.
The Aids Healthcare Foundation (AHF) held the 2022 Media Awards at a local hotel on Tuesday 20 December 2022.
Five health science journalists got recognition for their work.
All five are members of the Health Communicators Forum (HCF) hosted by the Humanitarian Information Facilitation Centre (HIFC).
HIFC has held capacity development cafes wherein partners, among them the AIDS Vaccine Coalition (AVAC), the World Health Organization (WHO) and others not mentioned by name sensitise the reporters on effective writing of health science.
Among the winners was the HCF Secretary General, Michael Gwarisa of Health Times, who clinched the Best Online reporting award. Moses Mugungunyuki of The Standard got the Best Print media with Elies Taylor, of Sly Media gonging the Best Online Broadcast award. Thulani Siziba of Radio Zimbabwe won the Best Radio broadcast award. The HCF Vice Chairperson, Catherine Murombedzi was the Outstanding Winner.
All winners got a floating trophy and cash each.
AHF, working in conjunction with the National Aids Council (NAC) capacitated the media tours to AHF-run sites which were an eye opener to comprehensive testing, screening, treatment, care, and support.
Through such capacity development, health journalists improve the quality of their work by appreciating HIV interventions on the ground.
At the AHF awards ceremony, Madeline Dube, the NAC Communications Director was the Guest of Honour while Adonija Muzondiona, the NAC Coordinator for Harare Province was the Director of Ceremonies.
Madeline Dube urged the media to have an appetite for in-depth stories and go beyond press statements.
“Go beyond the press statement, go beyond statistics, find the story behind the story. I urge you to have passion for your work,” said Dube.
Dr. Sandra Bote, the AHF National Medical Director expressed his organisation’s optimism for working with the media and hopes to see more ground covered in the coming year.
“We thank the media for bringing health to the people, writing advocacy issues. Our centres are open to everyone,” Dr. Bote said.
She said everyone was a winner as AHF availed the media an opportunity to grow in the next year through engagement.