A radio journalist of African Togo won the prestigious water, sanitation and hygiene media award for 2009-10, according to a message received here yesterday.
Francois Koami, a presenter of an environmental programme on Radio Zephyr, won the award in French category for his series reports on sanitation and hygiene as well as water condition of villages in Togo.
The 34-year-old Francois has also won the 1st prize of “Wash Media Prize” in 2008, offered in Togo by CREPA-TOGO. He is also the Chairman of The Association of Journalists for Environment, Togo (AJE-Togo).
His first report realised in the area of Dagbati, a place of south-eastern prefecture of Vo and about 90 km off capital Lom, was about sanitation and hygiene condition in this village. The second report focused on the problematic of water in the village of Avetonou, about 100 km off the south-west from Lom.
A total of 140 journalists of 40 countries from all over the world submitted their video footage for the competition.
WASH Media Award is co-sponsored by the Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC) and the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI).
The main objective of the award is to highlight the role of media in creating awareness about the importance of water, sanitation and hygiene services.
The award, introduced in 2002, is given in every alternative year. The award, given for the third time, for journalists. It includes cash and citation.