For the fifth year running, the Health Development Initiative (HDI) has awarded outstanding journalists in reproductive health reporting. Six journalists were recognized in different for their articles reporting about reproductive health and rights. Dubbed the Reproductive Health Journalism Awards, the event took place on December 11, 2020 in at Lemigo Hotel under the theme “Enhancing media participation in advancing Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in Rwanda”. The awards rewarded journalists who forthrightly write on any of the seven key areas in sexual reproductive health and rights: family planning, maternal and newborn health, safe abortion, HIV/AIDS and other STIs, teenage pregnancy, gender-based violence, sexual health and education. In the print and online category, the awarded journalists were Eric Uwimbabazi from Umurengezi media house who secured cash prize worth Rwf1 million for his story showcasing the role of parents in engaging their children on SRHR issues and Glory Iribagiza from The New Times who secured Rwf800,000 for her story on “Fighting postpartum depression”. Uwimbabazi was the winner and Iribagiza the runner up in this category. In the audio category, Eric Rugerinyange from Radio Salus was the overall winner and received Rwf1 million with the story on how teenage pregnancies lead to school drop-out and Jean de Dieu Ntakirutimana from Radio Isangano with a feature story that tackles the importance of parents in engaging their children on SRHR. Ntakirutimana received Rwf800,000. In the television category, Carine Umutoni from Rwanda Broadcasting Agency emerged the winner with her story on youth and adolescents engaged in SRHR while Fulgence Hakizuwera reporting for TV1 emerged the runner up with his story on access to SRHR information and services. Umutoni received Rwf1 million while Hakizuwera walked away with Rwf800,000. In his speech during the awarding ceremony, Dr. Aflodis Kagaba, the Executive Director of HDI, thanked journalists for their efforts in reporting about reproductive health. He added that this year, they received 179 submissions from 114 journalists representing 57 media houses. “We thank all the partners for their contribution in recognizing the efforts of all journalists. We thank the jury who selected the best submissions,” he said. Emmanuel Mugisha, the Executive Secretary of Rwanda Media Commission commended HDI for encouraging journalists to report about reproductive health and emphasized that news should be relevant to the public. “Journalism has voice and amplification and therefore we are recognizing efforts made by journalists in promoting reproductive health in Rwanda. We laud HDI for motivating journalists to produce such relevant stories that benefit our society. Journalists should ensure news relevancy to the public.” Speaking on behalf GIZ, one of HDI’s partners, Clement Shyaka reiterated that media are key players in promoting reproductive health and rights, adding that they will continue to support the initiative to recognize their efforts. “Journalists play a big role in disseminating relevant information and knowledge about reproductive health to youth. That is why we thank HDI that came up with the initiative to introduce the awards to journalists. Our programme will continue to support this,” he remarked. On behalf of the Minister of Health, Dr. Felix Sayizonga, the Division Manager in charge of Maternal, Child and Community Health at Rwanda Biomedical Centre commended HDI’s efforts in advancing health especially reproductive health and reiterated their commitment to working with journalists to report about reproductive health. “When you ask citizens, they say that they get a lot of information and knowledge about health from the media. I assure you that we will continue, as the Ministry of Health, to collaborate with journalists. The reproductive health journalism awards will motivate journalists to continue producing the best articles about health,” he said. He applauded civil society organizations such as HDI that are working hard to advance reproductive health and rights. The first edition of the awards was in 2016 with 15 submissions. Since then, the media has increased reporting on sexual and reproductive health and rights. In just three years, submissions have increased dramatically. In the fourth year alone, 167 submissions from 105 journalists from 48 media houses participated. HDI strives to empower individuals, communities, and institutions and improve community health and development in Rwanda. Using a rights-based approach, the organization builds sustainable alliances to advocate for and support inclusive, health-friendly policies and services for everyone regardless of social, cultural, economic or any other status.
