‘The Star’ takes home two awards
Photographer and assistant features editor pocket RM1,500 and RM500
KUALA LUMPUR: The Star bagged two awards in the English newspaper category for a photograph and an article at the 11th Health Media Awards 2017.
Photographer Mohammad Azman Abdul Ghani took home the main prize for his photograph titled “Aedes to Zika and we don’t care” which featured a schoolboy walking past a puddle at a low-cost housing project area.
“It came at a split second when I saw the reflection of the schoolboy on the puddle, and I knew I had to take the picture.
“It was about being at the right place and the right time,” said Azman, who has been a photographer with The Star for 10 years.
Assistant features editor Tan Shiow Chin took home a consolation prize for her story on a procedure called “haplo-identical” bone marrow transplant.
“I am very happy this story won the prize because it is a good combination of human interest and the science behind it,” said Tan.
Azman won RM1,500 and a certificate while Tan took home RM500 and a certificate as well. The awards were presented by Deputy Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahaya.
Also present were Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah and ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Dr Chen Chaw Min.
In his speech, Dr Hilmi said the mass media plays a vital role in spreading awareness among the people on health matters and to help in providing knowledge on health-related issues.
“Therefore, it is vital for everyone to have continuous communication on creating awareness on preventing the spread of diseases and the management of one’s personal health.
“This is where the media plays a role in helping the ministry to spread awareness and information about health issues so the public knows the importance of taking care of their health,” he added.