COVID-19 – African Women in Media

The article discusses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the careers of several journalists in East Africa. Janet Otieno, who worked for Mwananchi Communications in Tanzania, and Eunice Omollo, a health and science journalist at the Nation Media Group in Kenya, share their personal experiences during the pandemic. The article also highlights the role of African Women in the Media (AWiM) and UNESCO in providing online training and research opportunities for East African women journalists, which helped them to adapt and grow professionally during the challenging times. Personal stories from journalists like Beatrice Dama Kahindi, Joyce Wangui Wachira-Kangema, Lilian Museka, Rachel Nduati, and others are included to illustrate the diverse challenges and transformations they faced.

Dr Mercy Korir talks to Sharon Barang’a about why she left clinical practice to become a health journalist

The article features Dr. Mercy Korir, who transitioned from a clinical doctor to a health journalist. Raised in rural Kenya, she was inspired by her headteacher and Ben Carson's books to pursue medicine, achieving her dream at the University of Nairobi. Despite enjoying her medical internship, she faced challenges like patient deaths and inadequate hospital resources. During a doctors' union strike, she decided to switch to communications to disseminate health information widely. After her Master's, she joined KTN, rising to health and science editor. Dr. Korir combats misinformation, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, and has been recognized with the Uzalendo Award. She values the broad impact of journalism and advises journalists to work passionately and accept criticism constructively.

Pandemic reporting drove me to the brink of suicide – African Women in Media

Eunice Omollo, a health and science journalist at Nation Media Group in Kenya, shares her personal struggle with mental health exacerbated by the pressures of reporting on the COVID-19 pandemic. Known as 'Mama Afya' or mother of health, Eunice has been recognized as the best health reporter in Africa in 2019. Despite her professional success, the relentless pace of covering the pandemic led to her developing several mental health disorders, including PTSD, depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and insomnia. After a period of denial and suffering in silence, Eunice sought help and was treated at Chiromo Mental Health Hospital. She continues to work while managing her conditions with medication and support from family and colleagues. Eunice hopes for a future where mental health is openly discussed to reduce stigma.