KATHMANDU : Kalpana Acharya, the Editor-in-Chief of Health TV Online, has been awarded with the first prize under the Global Media Award for her outstanding reporting on the United Nations High-Level Meeting (UNGA-HLM) on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR). The award was presented to Acharya at the fourth Global Media Forum organized virtually by the Global AMR Media Alliance on Thursday. A total of 413 journalists from 43 countries applied for this award, which recognized excellence in AMR reporting across six categories. However, Acharya was the only journalist selected specifically for her coverage of the UN High-Level Meeting on AMR.

This year, the Global AMR Media Alliance initiated the AMR Awards, inviting submissions worldwide. News features, video stories, and reports published between May 15, 2024, and October 22, 2024, were reviewed. Awards were distributed in all six WHO regions (South-East Asia, Africa, Eastern Mediterranean, Pan-American, Western Pacific, and European), with first, second, and third places awarded in each. Additionally, three journalists were awarded in the global category, along with a special award for exceptional reporting on this year’s UNGA High-Level Meeting, which Acharya received as the sole honoree worldwide. Her award-winning coverage included seven reports and analyses highlighting key issues from the UNGA HLM on AMR, a body of work that earned her the top prize from the judges.

 After receiving the award, Acharya expressed that while she hadn’t worked specifically with an award in mind, this international recognition has deeply inspired her to continue reporting in this critical area.

Shobha Shukla, founder and coordinator of the Global AMR Media Alliance, noted that the AMR Media Awards aim to encourage journalists to report on AMR issues and understand the sensitivity of this topic. From South-East Asia, Nepal’s Dhan Bahadur Khadka won third prize. Affiliated with Nepal Live and Swasthya Khabar, Khadka was recognized for his continuous reporting on AMR. In the same category, Nurul Islam Hasib from Bangladesh won first place, and Anuradha  Mascarenhas from the Indian Express was awarded second place.

The World Health Organization has identified AMR as one of the top 10 global public health challenges. Rising complications and fatalities from drug-resistant diseases have led experts and stakeholders to emphasize the need for united efforts—including responsible antibiotic use and media engagement—to combat this pressing issue.

The virtual forum included participants from the World Health Organization, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, AMR experts, and stakeholders. From Nepal, Director General of the Department of Health Services Dr. Bikash Devkota and FHI 360 Director Bhagwan Shrestha attended the ceremony. The event was moderated by Annabelle Mandeng, a renowned German actress and an advocate in the areas of HIV and tuberculosis prevention.