In June the Media for Environment, Science, Health and Agriculture (MESHA), in partnership with the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) Canada, has announced the winners of its inaugural MESHA Health and Climate Change Journalism Awards.
The regional awards recognised outstanding reporting on the intersection of public health, climate resilience and environmental change across East and Southern Africa. The competition received 54 entries from Consortium member countries, including Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
As a member of the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ) and the World Federation of Science Journalists (WFSJ), MESHA established the awards to promote high-quality science journalism and strengthen science communication across the continent.
A panel of judges assessed the entries based on thematic relevance, depth of research and innovation in storytelling.
Jackson Okata of MESHA, Kenya, won the overall award for his story, “Sand dams are fighting scarcity and diseases.”
Mwanaisha Makumbuli of Highlands FM Radio, Tanzania, was named first runner-up for “Mabadiliko ya Tabia Nchi – Ukataji Miti Holela,” while Simon Chris Makanga of Athari Media Support Africa, Uganda, took second runner-up for “Forced Choices — Climate change rewriting women’s reproductive choices in Karamoja Subregion, Uganda.”
Milliam Murigi of Science Africa was named third runner-up for “Climate change now a major public health crisis.”
The top 10 finalists and special mentions also recognised contributions from Asha Bekidusa and Yvonne Kawira of Willow Health Media, Sammy Waweru of the Daily Nation in Kenya, and Christine Ochogo of MESHA, Kenya.
“These awards aim to incentivise and motivate journalists to attend the Media Science Cafés and produce accurate, engaging and impactful research-based stories,” said Aghan Daniel, CEO of MESHA.
The judges also commended entries by Simon Wokorach of Uganda, Philip Muasya of Kenya, Eamon Piringu of Zodiak Broadcasting Station in Malawi and Patrick Soko of Zambia News and Information.
Journalism’s role in public understanding
Delivering the keynote address as chief guest, Temesi Mukani, secretary for Information and Broadcasting in the Ministry of Information, Communication and Technology, emphasised the role of science journalism in helping the public understand complex issues.
“When journalists accurately translate dense, technical data into clear, human-centred narratives, they dismantle misconceptions, build durable public trust, and equip our citizens with the evidence-based facts necessary to make life-changing decisions,” Mukani said.
He called on media organisations to mainstream the intersection of gender, health and climate change in their reporting.
Coverage, he said, should examine how environmental and public health challenges affect men and women differently, highlight the role of women in building community resilience and explore disparities in access to healthcare.
He also urged journalists to examine how health interventions affect different population groups.
Mukani commended MESHA for its mentorship, training and professional development opportunities, which he said had enabled members to grow and work across local and international platforms.
Judges call for stronger climate-health analysis
The technical evaluation, presented by media experts Rachel Kibui and Godfrey Ombogo, found that the submissions effectively explored the intersections of climate change, health, gender and culture through multiple sources and compelling storytelling.
However, the judges identified a recurring weakness: many stories did not clearly establish the link between climate change and health.
“A recurring concern was that many pieces did not clearly establish the nexus between climate change and health. Judges noted the need for stronger explanations of how climate-related changes directly affect health outcomes, communities and livelihoods,” Ombogo said.
The panel recommended deeper use of data, greater analysis of issues such as carbon emissions and ocean temperatures, and stricter adherence to ethical guidelines, particularly when reporting on minors and protecting their identities.
Tackling misinformation in the digital age
The virtual awards event also examined changing media consumption patterns and the growing influence of digital information platforms.
Mukani warned that the speed at which health information reaches audiences online can also accelerate the spread of misinformation and stigma.
“Today, more young Kenyans encounter health information on mobile screens than in physical clinics, meaning the exact same speed that carries life-saving medical data can spread devastating misinformation and social stigma at the exact same velocity,” he said.
“While the state enforces robust legal frameworks to protect citizens in the digital sphere, the law only does half the work; the remaining half relies entirely on your ethical editorial practices to inform without inflaming.”
MESHA and its partners said they remain committed to supporting regional newsrooms through open-access institutional support and data-verification infrastructure to strengthen public-interest reporting.
