Star Digital reporter Nancy Agutu claimed the top prize in the online health journalism category at the Africa Media Network on Health Journalism Awards in Kigali, Rwanda, on Wednesday night.
The ceremony recognized 161 entries from East African journalists, including 44 TV, 29 radio, 50 print, and 38 online submissions. Agutu's winning work, "The agony of stillbirth and how to prevent it," focused on two Kenyan women who experienced fetal loss, reflecting a broader crisis where thousands of mothers face unexplained pregnancy losses annually.
Medical professionals' failure to provide adequate explanations or education about stillbirth causes has led many women to internalize blame, attributing losses to personal failings or supernatural factors. Agutu's reporting underscored this systemic gap in maternal healthcare communication.
Ugandan journalists Samuel Okirir (silver) and Flavia Nassaka (bronze) also received honors. Agutu expressed gratitude for the recognition, crediting her editors at Star and Radio Africa Group for supporting her investigative work.
Radio Africa Group's Paul Ilado praised Agutu's talent, stating the award validates the network's commitment to high-quality health reporting. Star's Digital Editor Oliver Mathenge emphasized the outlet's dedication to producing journalism that resonates with audiences through in-depth, socially relevant storytelling.
The Africa Media Network on Health Journalism (AMNH) is a regional platform backed by health advocacy organizations including Amref Health Africa and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation. It aims to strengthen health systems through collaborative journalism across five East African nations.
Kenyan TV journalist Eunice Omollo won gold in the television category, while Eunice Kilonzo secured top print honors. Malawian radio journalist MacDonald Gondwe claimed the radio award, with Zambia's Arthur Sikopo and Kenya's Ruth Keah taking silver and bronze respectively.
Amref Health Africa CEO Githinji Gitahi emphasized the media's role in holding governments accountable for healthcare commitments, urging journalists to amplify public understanding of universal health coverage as a social contract between citizens and states.
