The Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany, established and funded by the science and technology company, has issued an invitation to journalists and media professionals to submit entries for its 2026 Media Recognition Awards on Diabetes and Hypertension. The Awards are aimed at encouraging media coverage that promotes healthy lifestyles and raises public awareness about the prevention and early detection of the two major non-communicable diseases.
The awards are an initiative organised in partnership with the African First Ladies and are part of the Foundation’s wider programme of using the media to increase public awareness of health and social issues.
Eligible media representatives are invited through the competition to showcase their work, which promotes a healthy lifestyle and raises awareness about prevention and early detection of Diabetes and Hypertension.
The competition is open to journalists working in print, radio, online, and multimedia platforms, and eligible regions include Southern Africa, West Africa, East Africa, French-speaking African countries, Portuguese-speaking African countries, Latin American countries, and Asian countries.
Under the 2026 Diabetes and Hypertension Media Recognition Awards, media representatives are being encouraged to produce and submit work carrying “strong and influential messages” promoting healthy lifestyles and raising awareness about the prevention and early detection of diabetes and hypertension.
Although established and funded by Merck KGaA Germany, the Merck Foundation is a separate legal entity from Merck and operates independently. It seeks to advance access to health by supporting innovative programmes and partnerships to improve the health and well-being of people around the world.
The Foundation has described the awards as part of its effort to strengthen the role of media professionals in educating communities and encouraging healthier lifestyles, based on its position that the media have an important role in bringing health information to the public and encouraging greater awareness of disease prevention and early detection.
The 2026 awards place particular emphasis on diabetes and hypertension, two conditions that require sustained public awareness because early detection and appropriate management can help reduce the risk of serious complications.
The competition therefore seeks journalistic work that goes beyond simply reporting on the diseases, encouraging coverage that communicates practical and influential messages about healthy living, prevention, and early detection.
The initiative is also consistent with the Foundation’s broader health-related programmes, which include efforts to build healthcare capacity and increase awareness of major health challenges.
The deadline for submission of entries for the 2026 Diabetes and Hypertension Media Recognition Awards is October 30, 2026, and entries are to be submitted by email to submit@merck-foundation.com.
Journalists interested in participating can obtain additional information and applicable submission requirements at https://merck-foundation.com/Awards/merck-foundation-media-recognition-awards-diabetes–hypertension
Winners will be chosen by the “Diabetes and Hypertension” Committee, which was formed to select the winners in an unbiased manner, based on evaluating the quality of the information included to promote a healthy lifestyle and raising awareness about prevention and early detection of Diabetes and Hypertension in a way that regular community members can comprehend, in line with the objectives of the Merck Foundation Capacity Advancement and Diabetes Blue Point Program to raise awareness within the communities.
The Committee is chaired by Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej (Ret.), CEO of Merck Foundation and
President of the “More Than a Mother” Campaign, while members of the Committee are Mr. Leonard Saika, Senior Programme Director at the Merck Foundation; Ms. Mehak Handa, Senior Manager for Communication and Community Awareness Programmes at the Foundation; and Ms. Kanaga Janani Chandrasekaran, Manager for Communication and Community Awareness Programmes at the Foundation.
Interested journalists may submit multiple applications to increase their chances of winning. Materials to be submitted should be published and available in a public domain to be eligible.
The selection committee may also decide to grant awards to more winners in each category based on the number and quality of applications received so as to give better opportunities for each region.
Winners will be notified personally through email. But the winners will also be publicly acknowledged through a press release for public announcement. The announcement will also be made on the Merck Foundation and partners’ websites and social media channels.
