The 10th edition of Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary_
The 10th edition of Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary 2023 held in India was chaired by Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej (CEO of Merck Foundation, Chair of Merck More than a Mother campaign), opportunity for Dr. Kelej and the 11 First Ladies of Africa present at this meeting, to call for work in 2024 to strengthen health capacities, break the stigma linked to infertility and support girls’ education.
The work was opened in the presence of Professor Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp (Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Merck Foundation). The first ladies, also known as Merck Ambassadors, took the opportunity to testify to the impact of Merck programs in their respective countries. All of these countries have benefited from scholarships to build the capacity of young doctors in critical and underserved specialties, many of them have sponsored young girls to secondary school graduation and supported empowerment financial situation of women stigmatized due to infertility.
According to Zimbabwe’s first lady, the collaboration with the Foundation dates back to 2019. And the country has reached important milestones in its journey with Merck. Dr. Amai Auxillia Mnangagwa, said that history is being written with Merck Foundation.
“Moreover, thanks to the program Educating Linda aimed at supporting girls’ education, we have provided scholarships to 20 girls to complete their studies by covering their school fees,” said Dr Amai Auxillia Mnangagwa.
For her part, Ms. Maria De Ms. Vila Nova, the First Lady of São Tomé said she was very impressed by the initiatives of the Merck Foundation and looked forward to launching all their programs in my country soon.
Malawi has been working closely with the Merck Foundation since 2020, to define a good strategy to strengthen healthcare capacity, support girls’ education and empower women living with infertility in Malawi. And it is with pride that Mrs. Monica Chakwera (First Lady of Malawi) testifies to an incredible, very impactful and effective partnership, which led to sponsoring the education of 60 high-achieving girls until their graduation from the secondary.
Note that the Merck Foundation provided Liberia with a sanitary napkin production machine and raw materials, which really helped young girls. Ms. Claire Marie Weah, First Lady of Liberia says the foundation has also worked on access to information and change of mentality in the country.
“Merck scholarships are a substantial contribution to improving access to equitable and quality health solutions in our country,” said Ms. Rebecca Akufo-Addo (First Lady of Ghana).
According to Ms Fatoumatta Bah-Barrow, First Lady of The Gambia, the country works together with Merck on various initiatives aimed at raising awareness of social and health issues, a partnership which dates back to 2017.
The partnership between the Merck Foundation and Central Africa dates from 2015, a fruitful collaboration which has led to the strengthening of the capacities of doctors in various specialties, to support so-called infertile women to be financially independent, thanks to the program “ Empowering Bern« .
Dr. Débora Katisa Carvalho (First Lady of Cape Verde): “I am very honored to be part of this prestigious platform and very enthusiastic about launching them in my country as soon as possible to benefit our population.”
Mrs. Angeline Ndayishimiye, First Lady of Burundi where the first public IVF center was launched said that Merck has provided training for fertility specialists, embryologists as well as technicians, who are the first local experts in Burundi.
Ms. Neo Jane Masisi, First Lady of Botswana: “I am pleased to have this long-term beneficial partnership with the Merck Foundation which began in 2018. As part of our national program to end GBV, the Foundation Merck has provided 20 sewing machines to groups of women affected by GBV across Botswana, to be able to generate monthly income for them, to improve their livelihoods. In addition, together we also launched a poster competition on the Stop GBV initiative.”
Ms. Denise Nyakeru Tshisekedi, First Lady of the DRC: “I am proud to announce that the Merck Foundation has granted 87 scholarships to our doctors, we also organized Media Training on Health for our journalists and supported the education of girls and the empowerment of women.”
Note that the 10th edition of Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary 2023 was marked by a high-level panel moderated by the first ladies.
Remember that to date, more than 1,700 scholarships have been awarded by the Merck Foundation to young doctors from 50 countries, in 42 critical and underserved specialties.
“This is an important step in transforming the patient care landscape and leading Africa towards a better, healthier and stronger future. I am happy to hear my dear sisters talk about their experiences and successes in their respective countries. Together, we will be an important part of Africa’s legacy,” explained Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej. END
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