Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation with H.E. DJÈNÈ CONDÉ, The First Lady of Guinea; H.E. FATIMA MAADA BIO; The First Lady of Sierra Leone; H.E. Prof. GERTRUDE MUTHARIKA, The First Lady of Malawi; H.E. FATOUMATTA BAH-BARROW, The First Lady of The Gambia; H.E. DENISE NKURUNZIZA, The First Lady of Burundi; H.E. AÏSSATA ISSOUFOU MAHAMADOU, The First Lady of Niger; H.E. BRIGITTE TOUADERA, The First Lady of Central African Republic; H.E. REBECCA AKUFO-ADDO, The First Lady of Ghana; H.E. CLAR MARIE WEAH, The First Lady of Liberia; H.E. ANTOINETTE SASSOU-NGUESSO, The First Lady of Congo Brazzaville; H.E. MONICA GEINGOS, The First Lady of Namibia; H.E. AUXILLIA MNANGAGWA, The First Lady of Zimbabwe; H.E. NEO JANE MASISI, The First Lady of Botswana; H.E. Dr. ISAURA FERRÃO NYUSI, The First Lady of Mozambique and Former First Lady of Mauritania.
- Merck Foundation announces special awards during Coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdown and movement restriction, ‘Stay at Home’ Media Recognition Awards for African Countries to encourage media to be creative and effective in raising awareness and sensitizing Communities on how to stay safe and keep physically and mentally healthy during Coronavirus lockdown.
06th April 2020, Abuja, Nigeria: Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany together with African First Ladies of Ghana, Nigeria, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Malawi, Namibia, Niger, Guinea Conakry, Burundi, Central African Republic (C.A.R.), Chad, Zimbabwe, Zambia, The Gambia, Liberia and Congo Brazzaville, announced the call for applications for their ‘Stay at Home” Media Recognition Awards for African countries. The theme of the awards is ‘Raising Awareness on how to Stay Safe and keep Physically and Mentally Healthy during Coronavirus Lockdown’.
Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation explains, “This unsettling period due to the coronavirus scare is difficult for everyone – both physically and mentally. While most countries are under complete lockdown or restricted movement, people do not know how to handle this situation. Physical Distancing is our Social Responsibility and the only way to kill Coronavirus, however, it will take a lot of courage and discipline to practice it. Taking good care of your mental and physical health is important during this period. So, we decided to initiate these awards in order to reward the journalists who are raising awareness in most effective and creative way on how to keep safe and stay physically & mentally healthy during this phase”.
Click here to download call for application for English Speaking African Countries
All the journalists from Print, Online, Radio and Multimedia Platforms from English speaking, French speaking, Arabic speaking and Portuguese speaking African countries are invited to send their entries for the awards. The most creative and influential media work aiming to raise awareness and sensitizing communities about this alarming topic at a regular basis will be eligible to win these awards.
“We have created four categories for Africa; English, French, Portuguese and Arabic speaking countries”, Dr Kelej added.
Merck Foundation will extend the awards to include Middle Eastern, Latin American and Asian Countries in the next few days to involve all media across the global South.
“Since most of the people are confined to their homes, they are spending a lot of time reading and listening to news through different platforms. Media professionals, it is your time to help the people to take care good care of their mental & physical health during these disturbing times, through your creative, informational and motivational work. You can guide them to adjust to their new and different routine & rhythm of life”, emphasized Dr. Rasha Kelej.
Click
here to download call for application for French Speaking African Countries
Details of the Merck Foundation “Stay at Home” Media Recognition AwardsWho can Apply:Journalists from Print, Online, Radio and Multimedia Platforms from English speaking, French speaking, Arabic speaking and Portuguese speaking African countriesLast date of submission:Entries can be submitted till 30th June 2020How to apply? Entries can be submitted via Email to info@merck-foundation.comalong with your details (including Name, Gender, Country, Media house, Email address & Mobile Number) and entry as an attachmentCategories and Prize Money:
In Partnership with The First Lady of Burundi, H.E DENISE NKURUNZIZA
In Partnership with The First Lady of Central African Republic, H.E. BRIGITTE TOUADERA
In Partnership with The First Lady of Chad, H.E. HINDA DEBY ITNO
In Partnership with The First Lady of Congo Brazzaville, H.E. ANTOINETTE SASSOU-NGUESSO
In Partnership with The First Lady Democratic Republic of Congo, H.E. DENISE NYAKERU TSHISEKEDI
In Partnership with The First Lady of The Gambia, H.E. FATOUMATTA BAH-BARROW
In Partnership with The First Lady of Ghana, H.E. REBECCA AKUFO-ADDO
In Partnership with The First Lady of Guinea Conakry, H.E DJÈNÈ CONDÉ
In Partnership with The First Lady of Liberia, H.E. CLAR MARIE WEAH
In Partnership with The First Lady of Malawi, H.E. PROF.GERTRUDE MUTHARIKA
In Partnership with The First Lady of Namibia, H.E. MONICA GEINGOS
In Partnership with The First Lady of Niger, H.E. AÏSSATA ISSOUFOU MAHAMADOU
In Partnership with The First Lady of Nigeria, H.E. AISHA BUHARI
In Partnership with The First Lady of Zambia, H.E. ESTHER LUNGU
In Partnership with The First Lady of Zimbabwe, H.E. AUXILLIA MNANGAGWA