Renata Brito, Bram Janssen, Nqobile Ntshangase and Panagiotis Mouzakis delivered an innovative presentation of powerful testimonies from HIV patients, health workers and officials to show the impact of U.S. foreign aid cuts in Lesotho — a country President Donald Trump once joked “no one has ever heard of,” but one that was deeply reliant on U.S. backing for its health programs.
Brito, Janssen and Ntshangase traveled to Lesotho to speak with patients and medical workers trying to keep the country’s health care system afloat amid dramatic funding cuts. Their reporting captured the human toll: halted HIV testing, shuttered health centers, mass layoffs, and patients forced to ration pills. The story highlighted how a single political decision in Washington echoed thousands of miles away — placing a vulnerable population at renewed risk.
The visual storytelling was especially rich. Janssen and Ntshangase shot compelling drone imagery and portraits, offering a layered view of the remote mountain kingdom’s fragile healthcare infrastructure. Mouzakis built a standout digital experience for APNews, making the package visually immersive. Top Stories editor Janelle Cogan edited the text.
The judges praised the story’s combination of strong field reporting and visuals with a user-focused presentation.
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