Star reporter Nancy Agutu scooped a prestigious award at the just concluded Africa Media Network on Health Journalism Awards.
The ceremony awarded journalists who have demonstrated outstanding merit in Health reporting in TV, radio and print categories.
There were 161 entries in total. 44 entries were in TV, 29 in radio, 50 in print and 38 in online.
Nancy won an award on maternal health in the online category. Second runners up were Samuel Okirir from Uganda and the third winner was Flavia Nakasa from Uganda.
“I am happy and greatful for this wonderful opportunity accorded to me in the health sector. This shows how much digital footprint has had an impact on the world of journalism. I am happy and thank you to my editors, who stood by me and guided me,” said Nancy.
The Star’s Digital Editor Oliver Mathenge said, “We are very proud of Nancy. She has once more shown that as Radio Africa Group, we are dedicated to excellence and giving our audience quality stories that they identify with.”
He added, “We continue to support our journalists to put together content that is informative, educative and entertaining with the highest quality of journalism that we can achieve.”
The AMNH is a network of highly acclaimed journalists and editors from Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda Zambia and Malawi who are reporting on health systems strengthening at their respective countries and at the Africa regional level.
It is also a brainchild of Health Systems Advocacy Partnership project – a consortium of partners – Amref Health Africa, the African Center for Global Health and Social Transformation, Health Action International, Wemos, and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation.
Nancy Agutu did a piece on ‘The agony of stillbirth and how to prevent it’, a story about two women, Mia and Mercy, who lost their babies before the term ended.
https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2018/09/01/the-agony-of-stillbirth-and-how-to-prevent-it_c1808568
Mia and Mercy are just among the many women who lose their babies every day in Kenya.
The failure by the medical personnel to give proper explanations or educate women on what causes these deaths mean that many would-be mothers go through life blaming themselves, their ‘blood’ and even ‘curses’ for the loss of their babies before term.