By Michael Gwarisa
Cimas Health Group has launched the Cimas@80 Media Awards to celebrate its 80th anniversary and honour the critical role journalists play in shaping a healthier Zimbabwean society.
Speaking at the launch in Harare, Cimas Chief Executive Officer Mr. Vulindlela Ndlovu said the awards, which run in partnership with the Zimbabwe Union of Journalists (ZUJ), are aimed at recognising excellence in health journalism while encouraging fact-based and impactful reporting.
We value the media not just as a communication channel but as a strategic partner in driving healthcare and wellness. Through your pens and microphones, you have the power to inspire healthier communities,” said Ndlovu.
The awards will recognise outstanding reporting across four categories:
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Healthcare Transformation
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Health and Wellness
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Excellence in Medical Innovation
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Public Health Awareness
Each category will honour a winner, who will receive US$1,500, and a runner-up, who will walk away with US$750.
Ndlovu stressed that the competition should be viewed as a partnership rather than just a contest.
“It’s about impact. Sometimes the real prize is being part of the collective effort to inspire healthier communities. We urge journalists to dig deeper, investigate, and translate complex health and wellness issues into stories that ordinary people can understand and act upon,” he said.
The Cimas@80 Media Awards build on the organisation’s previous support for health journalism, including sponsorship of the Health Reporter of the Year Award at the National Journalism and Media Awards (NJAMA).
Ndlovu also highlighted the broader purpose of Cimas beyond being a medical aid society, saying the group’s focus is on inspiring healthier communities through wellness, prevention, and equitable access to healthcare.
