THE Merck Foundation has opened entries for the 2025 Media Recognition Awards on Diabetes and Hypertension, inviting journalists from Africa, Latin America and Asia to submit stories that highlight healthy living and the importance of preventing and detecting the two diseases early.
The annual awards, organised in partnership with several African First Ladies, seek to honour outstanding reporting that can help curb the rising burden of non-communicable diseases.
Eligible applicants include journalists working in print, radio, online and multimedia platforms across Southern, West and East Africa, French- and Portuguese-speaking African countries, as well as Latin American and Asian nations.
According to the foundation, entries must be sent by email to submit@merck-foundation.com no later than 30 October 2025, with the subject line Merck Foundation Africa Media Recognition Awards 2025 “Diabetes & Hypertension”.
Submissions should include the applicant’s name, country, category of application and contact details.
The foundation also noted that multiple entries are allowed to increase the chances of selection.
It added that winners will be chosen by a committee chaired by Merck Foundation chief executive, Rasha Kelej, a senator, and will be contacted directly before a public announcement is made on the foundation’s website and social media channels.
The awards are supported by First Ladies from several African nations. Each winner in Print, Online, Radio and Multimedia will receive USD 500, according to the call for applications.
Established in 2017 as a German non-profit organisation, Merck Foundation runs the initiative under its Capacity Advancement and Diabetes Blue Point programme to encourage media professionals to educate the public on lifestyle changes and health checks that can reduce the prevalence of diabetes and hypertension.
Mustapha Usman is an investigative journalist with the International Centre for Investigative Reporting. You can easily reach him via: musman@icirnigeria.com. He tweets @UsmanMustapha_M