By Kenyan Journalist Bags A Mega Award
Mercy Tyra Murengu has bagged the Merck More than A Mother Special Award. Mercy advocates against stigma for people struggling with infertility issues.
In an interview, she says “It was an honour, I dedicate this award to people who trusted me to tell their stories,”
The Milele FM radio presenter has been in the media industry for 11 years and so far, she boasts 16 awards for passionately championing better health through her stories.
According to Murengu, the Special Award Category is reserved for those who have been reporting on fertility matters for a long time. Murengu, a health journalist tasked with feature writing at Mediamax Limited which owns Milele FM, has been reporting on fertility matters for a long time.
Kenyan Journalist Bags A Mega Award
While in the field, Murengu encountered many people who really struggle with infertility but are afraid to talk about it because of the stigma. “Men don’t come out to say I’m infertile and whenever society points out that they don’t have kids they insist that their wives are the ones with the problem,” said Murengu who also specialized in global health and gender reporting.
“One,man really wanted to come out but didn’t know how. When I talked to him he said that his peers look down on him and he can’t even sit with other elders.,” she said.
The seasoned journalist said that in some places, men without children are never invited to parties for fear that they carry spirits that may make others suffer the same fate. During circumcision, infertile men are also not allowed to mingle with people or the initiates, as they will pass the ‘evil’ spirits to them.
“I am very passionate about health stories and now I am their voice. I go to the gynae and ask questions on their behalf,” she said. “I educate society about infertility and the solutions available for people struggling with it such as adoption and In vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment.
I take my time people to educate people that marriage is not just about children but companionship, she added. Murengu also works to demystify the belief held by many that infertility is a result of witchcraft.
Congratulations Mercy.
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