PleasureNews’ Emefa Atiamoah-Eli Wins REMAPSEN’s Best Journalist in Health Reporting Award for West and Central Africa

Introduction

In a landmark achievement for African journalism, Emefa Ewoenam Atiamoah-Eli of PleasureNews has been honored with the prestigious Best Journalist in Health Reporting (Radio) award for West and Central Africa at the 2025 REMAPSEN Media Forum and Awards in Cotonou, Benin. This recognition not only celebrates individual excellence but also highlights Ghana’s growing influence in health journalism across the continent.

Key Points

Background

The REMAPSEN (Réseau des Médias Africains pour la Promotion de la Santé et de l’Environnement) Media Forum and Awards represent a significant platform for recognizing excellence in health and environmental journalism across Africa. Established to strengthen media capacity and advocacy on critical health and environmental issues, REMAPSEN has become a cornerstone organization for journalists covering these vital topics.

The 2025 forum in Cotonou brought together media professionals, health experts, and policymakers from across West and Central Africa to discuss pressing health challenges, with a particular focus on Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs). The timing of the awards ceremony, coinciding with World NTDs Day, underscored the importance of media coverage in raising awareness about these often-overlooked health conditions.

Analysis

Atiamoah-Eli’s win represents more than individual achievement—it signals a broader recognition of the critical role that health journalism plays in public health outcomes. As both Ghana’s National Coordinator and the West/Central Africa Regional Coordinator for Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health for REMAPSEN, her work bridges the gap between media coverage, policy advocacy, and community health outcomes.

The dual recognition of both individual and national excellence is particularly noteworthy. Ghana’s designation as the “Most Committed Country” and selection to host the 2026 forum in Accra demonstrates the country’s sustained engagement with health journalism initiatives. This recognition comes with the Michel Sidibé Prize, named after the African Union Special Envoy and former UNAIDS Executive Director, who emphasized in his keynote address that “there is no effective public health response without credible journalism.”

The support from major partners including the Gates Foundation and WHO highlights the growing recognition that media plays an essential role in combating misinformation, demanding accountability, and ensuring that no community is left behind in public health initiatives.

Practical Advice

For journalists aspiring to excel in health reporting, Atiamoah-Eli’s recognition offers several valuable lessons:

1. **Focus on human-centered stories**: Her emphasis on “health stories that are centred on people” demonstrates the power of narrative journalism in making complex health issues accessible and compelling.

2. **Build institutional relationships**: Her dual role with REMAPSEN shows the value of engaging with professional networks and advocacy organizations.

3. **Maintain consistency and commitment**: Ghana’s recognition as the “Most Committed Country” underscores the importance of sustained engagement rather than one-off coverage.

4. **Understand policy implications**: Atiamoah-Eli’s work demonstrates how effective health journalism can influence both policy and behavior change.

5. **Collaborate with health experts**: The forum’s support from WHO and other health organizations highlights the importance of building relationships with subject matter experts.

FAQ

Conclusion

Emefa Atiamoah-Eli’s recognition as the Best Journalist in Health Reporting for West and Central Africa represents a significant milestone in African health journalism. Her work, along with Ghana’s broader commitment to health reporting excellence, demonstrates the powerful intersection between quality journalism and public health outcomes. As REMAPSEN continues to grow and evolve, with Ghana set to host the 2026 forum, the future of health journalism in Africa looks increasingly promising. This recognition serves as both an inspiration for journalists across the continent and a reminder of the critical role that media plays in advancing public health goals.