WHO launches Health Journalism Awards. Photo: Courtesy.

The World Health Organization has launched a health journalism award aimed at strengthening collaboration between journalists and health professionals and improving public access to health information.

The initiative was announced on Friday, 28, August 2026,  during the WHO Media Meet and Greet event in Juba.

Dr. Foustius Bayu, Health Reproductive Officer at the WHO, said the award is designed to bridge the gap between professional health information and public understanding.

He said journalists and other content creators have an important role to play in translating complex health information into simple language that can be easily understood by the public.

“I want to emphasize what has just been launched, the journalism award. As an organization, we want to work with everybody that we believe can contribute. And the purpose of this journalism award is really to stimulate you, to get you involved in passing out health information in the simplest language that the common person can understand,” Dr. Bayu said.

According to Dr. Bayu, the initiative seeks to encourage journalists to take a more active role in communicating health information in ways that are accessible to ordinary people.

He said the award will also promote broader collaboration between the WHO, journalists, health professionals and other stakeholders involved in public health communication.

The WHO says effective health communication is essential in helping communities understand health risks, access available services and make informed decisions about their health.

Dr. Bayu emphasized that the initiative is open to collaboration with stakeholders who can contribute to disseminating accurate and accessible health information.

He said the focus is not only on reporting health issues but also on ensuring that technical medical information is translated into language that communities can understand and act upon.

The journalism award is expected to encourage more journalists and content creators to produce accurate, accessible and impactful health stories in South Sudan.