GhanaPlus’ Vida Essel-Lamptey named 2022 “Merck Foundation Diabetes & Hypertension Media Recognition Awards” co-3rd Prize winner

GhanaPlus.com Journalist, Ms Vida Essel-Lamptey has been name the co-third prize winner of the 2022 Merck Foundation Diabetes and Hypertension Media Recognition Awards, West Africa Countries.

She co-won the award, the online category, with multiple award winning Daily Graphic Journalist, Mr Zadok Kwame Gyesi and Ghana News Agency(GNA)’s Ms Muniratu Akweley Issah.

The first and second prizes were won by Patience Ivie Ihejirika of the Leadership Newspaper, Nigeria and Ernest Senanu Dovlo of Metro TV, Ghana, respectively.

Hypertension: snatching lives, suddenly, silently

Ms Essel-Lamptey’s article titled  “Hypertension: snatching lives, suddenly, silently”, a feature article which highlights hypertension,a disease said to be the number one cause of death globally and affects one billion people worldwide made it in the awards which saw entries from all across the West African Region.

The article shares three different stories of how the disease can manifest in a person’s life, its causes, symptoms, treatment and dangers associated with it.

Journalists from East, South, French and Portuguese speaking African countries were also awarded.

CEO of Merck Foundation

Speaking at an online ceremony to announce the winners, the Chief Executive Offer of Merck Foundation, Rasha Kelej congratulates the award winners and admonished them to used their platforms to educate the public about the disease.

Don’t be victims to hypertension – GhanaPlus’ Vida Essel-Lamptey advocates

On her part, Ms Essel-Lamptey said she is humbled by the recognition.

According to her, “Hypertension: snatching lives, suddenly, silently” shared real life stories of people very close to her including her own mother and admonished Ghanaians to abreast themselves with the disease so not to fall victims.

“I have seen first hand from my own mother’s experience with hypertension. She was fine , the next minute, she was down with mild stroke and she was unable to do anything for herself,” Ms Essel-Lamptey said.

“You may not be lucky to have one like hers, yours could be severe,  even dead so am appealing to everyone to check their BP every six month as recommended by doctors and also adopt a healthy life style,” added.

Ms Essel-Lamptey was grateful to all who contributed to the article, most especially, Ghanaian Times’ Jonathan Donkor and Dr Vishnu N.L Abayateye, a Physician Specialist at Margret Marquart Catholic Hospital, Kpando for his professional contribution and education about hypertension.

Merck Foundation Diabetes & Hypertension Media Recognition Awards

The Merck Foundation Diabetes and Hypertension Media Recognition Awards seeks to recognize and reward African Journalists who have produced accurate, informative and compelling stories about diabetes and hypertension to promote a healthy lifestyle and raise awareness about prevention and early detection of the two claiming millions of lives globally.

Source: GhanaPlus.com