A news report featuring
the impact of drought and food insecurity in Kenya today won a
UNICEF-sponsored Television News Bulletin Award at the CNN MultiChoice
African Journalist of the Year Award Ceremony held in Lusaka, Zambia.
Reporter Nimrod Taabu Mwagamoyo and Cameraman
Charles Kinyua Kariuki of NTV Kenya received the Award for their
“Portraits of Pain” series highlighting the plight of Barpello village
in East Pokot, Kenya, where severe drought and food insecurity has
rendered water so scarce that residents are forced to rely on a single,
heavily-contaminated water-source.
The pastoralist community shares this dam with
their animals that not only drink from it but also pollute the water
further with their own waste.
The television feature echoes the residents’ appeal
to save them from trekking long distances in search of clean water, and
from consuming unsafe water that has rendered them perpetually
vulnerable to disease.
Today marks the first time that UNICEF has supported the CNN MultiChoice African Journalist of the Year Award.
UNICEF Regional Director for Eastern and Southern
Africa, Elhadj As Sy, who presented the award to the finalists,
expressed gratitude to the African journalists for their role in
uncovering and reporting on critical issues that deeply affect children
across the continent.
“Important progress has been made for children in
Africa over the years in reducing child mortality. However, progress has
not been uniform and inequalities exist between and within countries,”
Mr. Sy said during the awards ceremony.“
“UNICEF is committed to empowering countries with
technical support, capacity-building and mechanisms for monitoring and
evaluation to help them reduce sickness and death among children. UNICEF
is also committed to work in partnership with governments,
non-governmental and civil society organizations, the private sector,
donors, and of course, the media to reach every child, everywhere,
particularly those hardest to reach and most vulnerable.”
Mr. Sy applauded the role of journalists in
highlighting the multiple obstacles to the survival, health and
wellbeing of children in Africa in the media, and in provoking debate
and discussion to address them.
He said, “Media professionals are key partners for
us when it comes to advocating for the realization and protection of
children’s rights.
Journalists have a crucial role to play in
illustrating and explaining these challenges and their impact,
particularly, on those children who are most excluded from progress and
access to basic social services. Without a transparent and open media
environment, it would be almost impossible to effectively tackle the
challenges children in Africa face.”
The Award was established in August 1995 to
encourage, promote and recognize excellence in African journalism. It is
now in its 17th year.
(www.newvision.co.ug)
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