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By Staff Reporter
Spiked Online, a Zimbabwean online news platform, scooped the Best Online Media award at the 6th National Aids Council (NAC) Media Awards on Thursday.
The award was presented at the World AIDS Day commemorations in Marondera on 1 December 2022.
Giving his remarks, Health and Child Care Ministry Chief Director, Dr. Munyaradzi Dhobhie, said the media plays a pivotal role in promoting the HIV response agenda.
He said in as much as there are emerging pandemics, the latest being MPOX previously dubbed Monkey Pox, it is important for the media not to lose sight of HIV which still remains a tough adversary.
Taking the second spot in the online media category was Pellagiah Mupurwa, a social media influencer, while HealthTimes got the third prize.
For the Print Newspaper Category, Muchaneta Chimuka from the vernacular Shona paper Kwayedza grabbed the first prize, while Thandeka Moyo from Bulawayo’s The Chronicle had the second prize with Moses Mugugunyeki from The Standard being the runner-up.
In the Electronic Media Category, Garikai Fadzi for Zimpapers Television Network (ZTN) was the winner and Abigail Tembo was the runner-up.
Mr. Byron Adonis Mutingwende, the Editor of Spiked Online Media, said multi-stakeholder collaboration was instrumental in the institution getting the accolade.
“I am very humbled by the recognition by the National AIDS Council (NAC) and its partners who saw it fit to award Spiked Online Media with the first prize in online media reporting category for 2022. First and foremost, I would like to appreciate the support of my family members who allow me the time to be on the ground to cover HIV and other health issues as well as other beats that require travelling, leaving them alone for hours, days, weeks, or even months.
“The support of the National AIDS Council (NAC), particularly the Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Bernard Madzima, the NAC Communication, and PR Department led by Madam Madeline Dube and Tadiwa Nyatanga-Pfupa is highly appreciated. I should also pay tribute to development partners like the United Nations, particularly the United Nations Communication Specialist, Mr. Sirak Gebrehiwot, whose support for media development is second to none. Colleagues in the media like my dear sister, Catherine Murombedzi, and brother – Michael Gwarisa, the Editor of HealthTimes, offer useful guidance in health reporting. Equally important in providing support are institutions like PEPFAR, AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), SafAIDS, The Arts and AIDS Foundation (TAAF), Jointed Hands Support Organisation, Family AIDS Caring Trust (FACT), Zimbabwe Union of Journalists (ZUJ), Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA, and The Union on TB, just to mention a few,” Mr. Mutingwende said.