It was a grand event in Lagos as West Africa’s foremost journal, Pharmanews, along with nine other broadcast and print media, bagged different categories of awards for contributing to the advancement of the Nigerian health sector.
The colourful ceremony which took place at R & A City Hotel, Ikeja, on 19 November, had several health professionals, guests and programme sponsors in attendance.
Speaking at the event, Prince Ifeanyi Dike, one of the organisers, praised the recipients of the award saying that they justified it.
“The essence of the Health Media Award is to recognise and honour those who have been in the vanguard of projecting the health sector. This is why we took our time picking the media and personalities whose efforts are felt from both print and broadcast media,” he stressed.
Butressing his view, Dr Bamidele Oshalusi, consultant neurologist, Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital noted that no one could deny the fact that information released to the public from the recipients over the years had not only been reliable, but also life-saving.
While congratulating the awardees, Vivian Dunu, executive chairman of Maydon Pharma, announced that the company was glad to be a part of the occasion.
“In health, we need the support of everybody. The unfortunate incident of Ebola breakout last year showed that we can indeed succeed if we agree to come together. The focus should always be on the patient,” she urged.
Recipients of the 2015 edition of Media Health Awards were Sir Ifeanyi Atueyi (Publisher, Pharmanews), Cordelia Okpei (Health edition on AM Life, Metro FM), Dr Wale Adeboje (Doctor’s Puzzle, Cool FM), Franca Osakwe (Health Column, National Mirror Newspaper), Mary Alale-Yusuf (Health Matters, Channels TV), Funmi Akingbade (Time-Out, Galaxy TV), Habibah Basanya (Health Issue, TVC), Olushola Ogundipe (Health editor, Vanguard Newspaper), Jibeh Ologeh (R-Wells Media) and Funmi Myk-Adeniran (Loyin Ladun, NTA).
Among the dignitaries at the event were Chief Donatus Dunu, chairman of Maydon Pharmaceuticals; Dr Akin Erinosho, director of disease control, Lagos State Ministry of Health; Rajeev Rajan, territory head (West Africa) Narayana Health; Chief Emeka Okafor, managing director of All American Products Limited; and Oluwatoyin Olajide, chief operating officer, Air Peace Airline.
