The Merck Foundation announced 124 winners from 32 countries for its 2025 “More Than a Mother” and “Diabetes and Hypertension” Media Awards [1].
These awards recognize the role of journalism in improving public health outcomes by bringing visibility to maternal health and non-communicable diseases. By incentivizing high-quality reporting, the organization aims to bridge the gap between medical knowledge and community awareness in underserved regions.
The initiative was conducted in partnership with the First Ladies of Africa [1]. The winners were honored during a virtual ceremony [5], with the announcement issued from Mumbai, India, and Abuja, Nigeria [4].
The awards focused on two primary health pillars. The “More Than a Mother” category highlighted maternal health, while the other category focused on the prevalence and management of diabetes and hypertension [2]. These conditions represent significant burdens on healthcare systems across the represented nations.
Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of the Merck Foundation, said the organization celebrated the contributions of these media professionals [6]. The foundation sought to honor those who provided outstanding coverage of these critical health issues [4].
While most sources identify the program as the 2025 Media Awards [1], some reports mention a call for applications for 2026 recognition [2]. Additionally, while the primary partnership is noted as being with the First Ladies of Africa [1], other reports suggest the partnership extended to Asian First Ladies as well [2].
“The Merck Foundation announced 124 winners from 32 countries”
The scale of these awards suggests a strategic effort to leverage media influence to combat health misinformation and lack of screening for chronic diseases in Africa and Asia. By partnering with First Ladies, the Merck Foundation utilizes high-level political visibility to amplify medical advocacy, potentially increasing the adoption of maternal health services and hypertension screenings in the 32 participating countries.
