3 December 2009 | Cancun, Mexico - The Stop TB Partnership today announced the winners of the Award for Excellence in Reporting on Tuberculosis 2009. The award, which is supported by the Lilly MDR-TB Partnership, recognizes outstanding reporting and commentary in print and on the web that materially increases the public's knowledge and understanding of tuberculosis (TB) and multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB), in countries affected by the disease.
The first place winner, who will receive an award of US$ 3000, is Charles Mpaka of Malawi. Mr Mpaka’s winning article, "A woman's face in tuberculosis", which appeared in The Daily Times (Blantyre Newspapers), focuses on the life of a nurse who works on a TB ward. Through her eyes we experience the devastation the disease causes in Malawi and the special burden it places on women, who are vulnerable to the illness and also the main caregivers of TB patients.
Second place, with an award of US$ 2000, goes to Carlos Henrique Fioravanti of Brazil. His article "Mortal Drama", which was published in Pesquisa magazine, warns of the spread of dangerous drug-resistant strains of TB throughout the world, in particular, in Brazil.
The third place winner, who will receive a $US 1000 award, is Neway Tsegaye of Ethiopia, whose article "TB Awareness and Treatment Challenges" appeared in Addis Lissan News. His article offers a window into the lives of TB patients in Addis Ababa, and also warns about the dangers of incomplete treatment, which can lead to drug resistance.