Two Stabroek News reporters have claimed top honours in the 2007 Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Media Awards for Excellence in Health Journalism.

Iana Seales and Olautoyin Alleyne each copped a national award. Seales won Best News Story – Print for “Local Heart Institute makes history with angioplasties” and Alleyne won Best Feature Article or Series – Print for “Alcoholism: the killer” .

PAHO communicated yesterday that the national awards luncheon and ceremony would be held on December 12, at the Cara Lodge, Quamina Street to honour the 2006 and 2007 winners.

In addition to the presentation of prizes, there will feature presentations addressing the issue of chronic non-communicable diseases (CNCDs) and Guyana’s response in light of the Caricom Heads of Government Summit on CNCDs will be made.

Last year, three Stabroek News reporters won PAHO national award while Guyana copped three regional prizes.

Alleyne, Seales and Christopher Yaw had copped awards for Best Story on any Non-Communicable Disease; PANOS award for the Best HIV story by a Guyanese journalist and Best Story on Disaster Preparedness respectively.

Alleyne won for an article titled “Girl 11 dies of ovarian cancer”. Seales won for her article, “Poor nutrition, poverty may be affecting HIV patients” and Yaw for his article, “Abary drainage slow”.