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AFIDEP through the Platform for Dialogue and Action on Health Technologies in Africa (Health Tech Platform), has launched the Emerging Health Technologies Media Award of Excellence to reward and celebrate African journalists who distinguish themselves reporting on novel areas of science and technology aimed at improving the health of the continent.

“The goal of the Health Tech Platform to promote open, informed and balanced discussions on the design and use of emerging health technologies in Africa cannot be achieved without the media’s active engagement in facilitating constructive discourse,” said Professor Richard Mukabana, Project Director of AFIDEP’s Health Tech Platform.

Professor Mukabana emphasized that “the Emerging Health Technologies Media Award of Excellence serves to boost the vital work of media practitioners across the continent reporting on innovations that could radically change lives.”

AFIDEP officially launched the EHTs Media Award – consisting of five categories – on 31st August 2022 at a virtual event co-hosted with ScienceAfrica, a media house specialising in health and science journalism and communication.

“The role of the mass media in effectively gathering, packaging and disseminating relevant information to various target audiences is evolving rapidly. In other words, science journalists have to continuously upgrade their knowledge and skills to remain competitive in what has become a global village. This award is a step in the right direction as it would help focus the science journalists to the emerging areas of science that are critical to Africa’s development but could easily be neglected due to their novelty and technical nature,” said Otula Owuor, Executive Director of ScienceAfrica.

Emerging health technologies include gene editing, specifically gene drives for malaria control and elimination; drones for improved health; artificial intelligence; and microgrids for healthcare, among others. African journalists are invited to submit original print, radio and television features written or produced between 1 October 2021 and 31 October 2022. The winners will be announced at an event in December 2022, where they would all discuss their entries and the unique nature of health technology reporting on the continent.

For details on the call for entries, including how to submit visit https://bit.ly/3Kz90YI

Download the media kit here.