( CNN ) -- CNN has won an Amnesty International Media award for its documentary World 's Untold Stories : Locked up and Forgotten . The winning half-hour film , presented by CNN 's Nairobi correspondent David McKenzie , highlights the negligence and social taboos suffered by Kenya 's mentally disabled community , who live a life hidden away in slums and remote villages across the country . Deprived of medical care and therapy , an estimated three million mentally disabled individuals are ostracized by society , concealed and locked away inside their own communities , often by their own families . Watch the documentary Lost and Forgotten . When it first aired on CNN the documentary sparked widespread debate , bringing the plight of Kenya 's mentally disabled to the forefront of the world 's media , leading domestic and international human rights groups to call for government intervention . McKenzie said : `` It 's fitting that the Amnesty International logo is a candle because it is an honor and a privilege to be awarded this prize for a documentary that shines a light on the shocking state of mental health in Kenya and beyond . '' The Amnesty International Media Award jurors praised the program for putting the issue high on the media 's agenda and subsequently bringing the matter to the attention of Kenyan government , who have called for change . `` David McKenzie took an unknown story and brought it to the attention of the world , testament that hard hitting journalism can incite global change , '' CNN International Managing Director Tony Maddox said . `` It is an honor to have your journalism recognized by Amnesty International as powerful enough to truly make a difference . '' The award is the World 's Untold Stories strand 's second win in the International Television and Radio category since it first aired on CNN in 2009 . In 2009 the strand took the award with The Forgotten People for its expose of the on-going persecution of the ethnic Rohingya people in their bid to escape terrible privation in Myanmar -- formerly Burma -- and in neighboring countries .
CNN documentary highlighted plight of mentally disabled people in Kenya . An estimated three million people are deprived of medical care and therapy , and hidden away . Documentary sparked international interest , calls for government action .