A 21-year-old Rwandan writer Obed Imbahafi has emerged as the winner of the written category for global youth storytelling on neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), APA learnt Thursday from authoritative sources.
The global youth storytelling competition on NTDs started from December 2020 to April 8, 2021 and was launched to combat NTDs and youth combating NTDs in partnership with the Crown Prince Court of Abu Dhabi, African Union, Channels TV, Commonwealth Youth Health Network, International Youth Federation, MPJ Youth, TIBA, National Institute of Health Research, ASMTH, and 1 million 2021.
His impressive story details a Grandpa’s diary entry about intestinal worms-a disease that lessens the body’s aptitude to absorb nutrients and vitamins.
According to Imbahafi, more than one billion children are at risk of contracting intestinal worms of which 82 percent live in South-East Asia and Africa.
According to the organisers, the competition received over 400 entries from 39 countries.
Over 50 percent of the entries were received from young people across Africa where there is a high dominance of NTDs.
All the youth around the world were allowed to participate and 40 reached the finals including two Rwandans.
Winners were announced in five categories, such as digital, music, video, audio and text.
The judges were from Japan, South Africa, the United Kingdom and Costa Rica.
Imbahafi won the top prize of $2500 and his plan is to develop a social media website and mobile application focused on tracing the history of Africa so as to bring back African youth to their roots.
CU/as/APA