Comfort Mussa wrote on the stigma associated with the disease locally and how it prevents care.
A Cameroonian journalist, Comfort Mussa has won the 2011 Excellence in Epilepsy Journalism Award organised by the International Bureau of Epilepsy, IBE and an international pharmaceutical firm, UCB. Comfort Mussa, a Bamenda-based journalist with the Cameroon Association for Social Marketing, ACMS, won in the online category for her article entitled “Epilepsy Myths Promote Stigma, Prevent Care in Cameroon.”
Making the announcement on April 12, 2012, IBE in a release from Brussels, Belgium said Mussa’s article that was published on the Global Press Institute, GPI website had “tackled an important issue in Africa, the demonising of epilepsy, and did so in a very compelling way,” commented Joachim Mueller-Jung, one of the members of the jury. “The story explores how myths promote stigma and sheds light on the importance of sensitising the community to accept people with epilepsy to ensure optimal care,” Joachim noted.
According to IBE President and award judge, Mike Glynn, almost 50 entries were received from 24 countries across the world. Accurate, insightful journalism across the globe is important for the epilepsy community, who often face deep-seated stigma and misconceptions about the reality of the condition, Mike said. “Our hope is that over time, we can help to encourage more reporting that begins to break down these barriers to understanding and acceptance for many people living with epilepsy across the world,” he concluded.
“I am very delighted that my article won the award. Epilepsy is a very important issue because it affects many people in our communities. The disease is demonised and not well understood in Cameroon, and people living with epilepsy are often stigmatised," said the 27-year-old journalist in reaction to the news.
The competition was in three categories of print, broadcast and online with each winner receiving 4,000 Euros (about FCFA 2.6 million). Among Mussa’s growing list of awards is the 1,000 Euros (about FCFA 656,000) New Partnership for Africa’s Development, NEPAD prize on the use of ICTs in agriculture by women and youth in rural areas to boost their activities she recently won.
