The Gleaner's Andrea Downer holds her two plaques at the Pan American Health Organisation Annual Caribbean Awards for Excellence in Health Journalism. Ms. Downer won two awards for the Best Health Coverage By a Media House and the Kaiser Fellowship for her piece 'Diary of an HIV Vaccine Trial Volunteer'. The awards ceremony was held yesterday at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, New Kingston. - Junior Dowie/Staff Photographer

The Gleaner's Andrea Downer, yesterday, received two awards in the 15th Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) Annual Caribbean Media Awards for Excellence in Journalism.

Ms. Downer won the Best Health Coverage By a Media House for her entry entitled, 'Diary of an HIV Vaccine Trial Volunteer'. She also won the Kaiser Fellowship for the same entry. The awards were presented during a ceremony held at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel, New Kingston.

Other winners were Taneisha Lewis and Ingrid Brown of The Jamaica Observer.

Mrs. Lewis won the award for the Best Feature article for her piece 'Popularity of Test Tube Baby Growing' and Ms. Brown won in three categories.

Improve health care

In his remarks, Rudyard Spencer, Minister of Health and Environment, said the PAHO awards were an excellent tool to encourage the work of journalists as part of the solution to improve health care for the population.

He said his Government would continue to do everything to facilitate excellence in journalism by making the necessary information available.

Guest speaker, Barbara Gloudon, communications consultant, highlighted the importance of health journalism, urging journalists to continue to pursue health-related stories, because members of the society need to appreciate that a nation cannot be built if its people are unhealthy.