Merck foundation calls for action together with 13 African first ladies to build healthcare capacity in 9th Africa-Asia Luminary

African First Ladies from Botswana, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, The Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Sierra Leone, Angola, and Central Africa, along with Professor Dr. Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp and Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej, commemorated the 5th Anniversary of the Merck Foundation and the decade-long journey of their development initiatives. They highlighted the influence of their collaborative programs with the Merck Foundation aimed at enhancing healthcare capabilities, fostering girls’ education, and eliminating the stigma associated with infertility. The 9th Edition of the Merck Foundation’s Africa Asia Luminary 2022 was inaugurated; over 10,000 participants, including healthcare professionals, policymakers, researchers, academics, and representatives from the media, joined the hybrid Luminary, which occurred both in-person and virtually. They participated in order to benefit from the scientific and social sessions addressing societal issues and enhancing healthcare capacities in 32 vital yet neglected medical specialties.

The Merck Foundation reported its impact in 32 crucial and neglected specialties, such as oncology, diabetes, cardiovascular prevention, endocrinology, fertility, embryology, reproductive health, acute and intensive care, neonatal care, pediatric emergencies, advanced surgery, microbiology & infectious diseases, internal medicine, ophthalmology, psychiatry, palliative care, and pain management, among others, after granting 1470 scholarships to doctors from 50 different nations. Link to the Merck Foundation’s inaugural session’s Facebook live stream with an African first lady and an Asian luminary: https://bit.ly/3XE4EWp

The 9th Edition of the “Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary,” the philanthropic division of Merck KGaA Germany, took place as a hybrid conference on November 15 and 16, 2022. (both onsite and online). Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp, Chairman of the Executive Board of E.Merck KG and the Board of Trustees of the Merck Foundation, Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of the Merck Foundation and Chairperson of the Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary, along with 13 African First Ladies from their respective nations, formally inaugurated the conference;

• H.E. Mrs. NEO JANE MASISI, The First Lady of the Republic of Botswana
• H.E. Madam ANGELINE NDAYISHIMIYE, The First Lady of the Republic of Burundi
• H.E. Madam DENISE NYAKERU TSHISEKEDI, The First Lady of the Democratic Republic of The Congo
• H.E. Mrs. FATOUMATTA BAH-BARROW, The First Lady of the Republic of The Gambia
• H.E. Mrs. REBECCA AKUFO-ADDO, The First Lady of the Republic of Ghana
• H.E. Mrs. CLAR MARIE WEAH, The First Lady of the Republic of Liberia
• H.E. Mrs. MONICA CHAKWERA, The First Lady of the Republic of Malawi
• H.E. Mrs. ISAURA FERRÃO NYUSI, The First Lady of the Republic of Mozambique
• H.E. Mrs. MONICA GEINGOS, The First Lady of the Republic of Namibia
• H.E. Dr. FATIMA MAADA BIO, The First Lady of the Republic of Sierra Leone
• H.E. Mrs. MUTINTA HICHILEMA, The First Lady of the Republic of Zambia
• H.E. Dr. ANA DIAS LOURENÇO, The First Lady of the Republic of Angola
• H.E. Madam BRIGITTE TOUADERA, The First Lady of Central Africa

Merck Foundation CEO, Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej stated, “I am exceptionally proud to welcome my beloved sisters, our Guests of Honor and Keynote Speakers, the First Ladies from 13 African Nations, who serve as Ambassadors for Merck Foundation ‘More Than a Mother’. Together, we are celebrating the 5th Anniversary of the Merck Foundation and the 10th Anniversary of our programs since 2012, which seek to enhance healthcare and media capabilities as well as raise awareness on a wide array of delicate and vital social and health concerns, including Supporting Girls’ Education, Ending Child Marriage, Stopping GBV, Breaking Infertility Stigma, Ending FGM, Empowering Women, and Diabetes Awareness.

“I take pride in noting that the Merck Foundation has awarded over 1470 scholarships to young doctors across 50 countries in 32 vital and neglected specialties. This achievement is a tremendous step toward transforming patient care and guiding Africa towards a healthier and more robust future. I am eager to learn from my dear sisters about their experiences and success stories in their respective nations; together, we will be a significant part of Africa’s legacy,” added Senator Kelej.

H.E. Mrs. NEO JANE MASISI, The First Lady of Botswana and Ambassador of Merck Foundation More Than A Mother expressed, “Our collaboration with Merck Foundation began in 2018, and since then, we have reached significant milestones. In partnership with Merck Foundation, we initiated a Poster Contest for the “Stop GBV” campaign to combat Gender-Based Violence in Botswana, and the Merck Foundation has donated 20 Sewing Machines to women’s groups affected by GBV across Botswana to help them generate monthly income. Additionally, over 31 scholarships have been granted to our local doctors in Botswana in 32 various underserved and critical specialties such as: Diabetes, Endocrinology, Dermatology, Gastroenterology, Oncology, Respiratory Medicines, Acute Medicines, and Sexual and Reproductive Medicines.”

H.E. Mrs. ANGELINE NDAYISHIMIYE, The First Lady of Burundi and Ambassador of Merck Foundation More Than A Mother remarked, “I am extremely proud of the collaboration we have established with Merck Foundation. Through our enduring partnership, we have provided 47 scholarships for our local doctors in critical and underserved specialties such as Diabetes, Oncology, Fertility & Embryology, and Sexual & Reproductive care. I am delighted to announce that we have successfully launched the first public IVF center in Burundi, and the Merck Foundation has facilitated training for the staff of Fertility Specialists, Embryologists, and technicians, making them the first local experts in my nation. We are making history in Burundi.”

H.E. Madam DENISE NYAKERU TSHISEKEDI, The First Lady of the Democratic Republic of The Congo & Ambassador of Merck Foundation More Than A Mother expressed, “I wish to sincerely recognize our remarkable partnership with the Merck Foundation that commenced in 2020. In a remarkably short period, we have collectively accomplished a great deal. I am proud to report that the Merck Foundation has awarded 77 scholarships to our doctors in the fields of Oncology, Fertility, Embryology, and Diabetes, resulting in our first Fertility specialists and Embryologists. Moreover, we also organized Online Health Media Training for our journalists to foster a cultural shift, break the silence, and become the voice of the voiceless in order to elevate awareness on sensitive social and health issues, such as Infertility Stigma, Supporting Girls’ Education, Women’s Empowerment, Ending Child Marriage, Ending FGM, Stopping GBV, and the early detection and prevention of Diabetes.”

H.E. Mrs. FATOUMATTA BAH-BARROW, The First Lady of the Republic of The Gambia & Ambassador of Merck Foundation More Than A Mother emphasized, “Our partnership continues to strengthen as we have achieved numerous significant milestones since 2017 when I hosted the Merck Foundation CEO and we together launched programs in my country. Through this collaboration with Merck Foundation, 32 scholarships have been offered to young Gambian doctors in various medical specialties. Furthermore, we are making history through the training…

to pioneer specialists across numerous domains such as Oncology, Respiratory, Fertility, Embryology, Reproductive Health, Diabetes, neonatal care, Endocrinology, and others. This is a momentous chapter in our history.”

H.E. Mrs. REBECCA AKUFO-ADDO, The First Lady of Ghana & Ambassador of Merck Foundation More Than A Mother highlighted, “I have collaborated closely with Merck Foundation to uplift women generally and those facing infertility specifically, not only by fostering a cultural shift but also by ensuring the availability of fertility, sexual, and reproductive care for them and their partners whenever they require it, across the nation. We have successfully awarded over 110 scholarships for 32 specialized training programs in areas such as Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiology, Endocrinology, Respiratory, Acute Medicine, Sexual and Reproductive Medicine, Embryology, Critical Care, Psychiatry, General Surgery, Dermatology, Emergency and Resuscitation Medicine, Gastroenterology, Neuroimaging for Research, Pain Management, Rheumatology, and Neonatal Medicine. Each of these domains is crucial for our nation, which I view as a significant step towards revolutionizing patient care in my country.”

H.E. Mrs. CLAR MARIE WEAH, The First Lady of Liberia & Ambassador of Merck Foundation More Than A Mother mentioned, “I am thrilled to work closely with Merck Foundation to empower women grappling with infertility through access to information, education, healthcare, and a shift in mindset. Merck Foundation also supplied a Sanitary Napkin Production Machine along with raw materials, which will significantly benefit our young girls. I genuinely value our collaboration and recognize their clever and serious strategy to offer specialized training to our local physicians. Up to now, 37 scholarships have been granted to our doctors across numerous critical and underserved specialties. This is a remarkable accomplishment for us, and we are undoubtedly creating history in Liberia by training the first specialists in various medical areas such as Infertility, Embryology, Oncology, and Diabetes.”

H.E. Mrs. MONICA CHAKWERA, The First Lady of Malawi & Ambassador of Merck Foundation More Than A Mother shared, “Since 2020, I have worked closely with Merck Foundation to devise the right approach to enhance healthcare capacity, empower women facing infertility, and support girls’ education in Malawi. Thanks to the support of Merck Foundation and their “Empowering Berna” program, 13 women have transformed their lives by starting their own small businesses to achieve financial independence; additionally, through the ‘Educating Linda’ program, we provided scholarships to 60 Malawian schoolgirls to continue their education until graduation. Furthermore, 33 scholarships have been awarded to aspiring Malawian doctors in 32 essential medical specialties including Fertility & Embryology, Diabetes, Endocrinology, Oncology, Internal Medicine, Sexual & Reproductive Medicines, Emergency care, Respiratory care, and more. My journey with Merck Foundation has surely been impactful, efficient, and incredibly fulfilling.”

H.E. Mrs. ISAURA FERRÃO NYUSI, The First Lady of Mozambique & Ambassador of Merck Foundation More Than A Mother highlighted, “I hold the initiatives of Merck Foundation under the “More Than a Mother” Campaign in high regard. We have recently conducted our inaugural Online Health Media Training for journalists to underscore the vital role media plays in raising awareness about a broad spectrum of social and health issues. Many journalists benefited from this training session. Together with Merck Foundation, I am wholeheartedly committed to collaborating on more innovative concepts that engage various sectors to foster a cultural transformation. Additionally, 14 scholarships have been granted to our physicians for the Online Diabetes Master course, a unique program specially designed in Portuguese to ensure our local doctors can avail themselves of it, as part of Merck Foundation’s Nationwide Diabetes Blue Points Program.”

H.E. Mrs. MONICA GEINGOS, The First Lady of Namibia & Ambassador of Merck Foundation More Than A Mother stated, “I take pride in our ongoing long-term partnership with Merck Foundation. As a Merck More Than a Mother Ambassador, I am particularly delighted as we have been accomplishing remarkable work in our country to empower women dealing with infertility through access to information, education, attitude change, and economic strengthening. Additionally, 53 scholarships have been granted to young Namibian doctors in disciplines such as Diabetes, Cardiology, Endocrinology, Respiratory Medicines, Acute Medicines, and Sexual and Reproductive Medicinal sciences, among others. With a population of 2.4M in Namibia, we will soon have over 18 skilled and trained physicians available nationwide to support couples facing infertility or seeking any sexual & reproductive assistance, marking a substantial contribution towards advancing women’s health overall and reproductive health specifically.”

H.E. Dr. FATIMA MAADA BIO, The First Lady of the Republic of Sierra Leone remarked, “Our collaboration with Merck Foundation began in 2018, and we greatly appreciate their initiatives. Together, we have granted 46 scholarships to local doctors from various regions of Sierra Leone in the fields of Oncology, Embryology & Fertility, Sexual and Reproductive Health Medicine, Diabetes, Endocrinology, Orthopaedics, Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases, Clinical Psychiatry, Dermatology, Gastroenterology, Internal Medicine, Neonatal Medicine, Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Cardiovascular Medicine, Respiratory Medicine, and Emergency and Resuscitation Medicine. I can confidently assert that in conjunction with Merck Foundation, we are making history in Sierra Leone by training the first Oncologists in the nation, aiming to establish the first proficient cancer care team in our new hospital, which will enhance access to quality and equitable cancer care nationwide. This is a monumental accomplishment for us as we previously had no oncologists or fertility specialists and had a significantly limited number of local experts in the public sector before initiating our partnership with Merck Foundation.”

H.E. Mrs. MUTINTA HICHILEMA, The First Lady of the Republic of Zambia expressed, “I am extremely proud of our alliance with Merck Foundation. The ‘Educating Linda’ program aimed at supporting girls’ education and providing scholarships to assist them in completing their education by covering their tuition fees has impressed me greatly; we have implemented this initiative in Zambia, awarding scholarships to 22 girls to cover their tuition in nursing schools and health sciences universities. This scholarship will continue until they successfully complete their education. I am also highly interested in the “More Than a Mother” Campaign, which is profoundly significant for my country and Africa as a whole. I wholeheartedly support this initiative as the First Lady of Zambia and as an African woman; it is very close to my heart. Furthermore, together with Merck Foundation, we have awarded 50 scholarships to our doctors from various provinces across Zambia, and we plan to expand this program under the guidance of my office.”

During her address, H.E. Mrs. ANA DIAS LOURENÇO, The First Lady of the Republic of Angola & Ambassador of Merck Foundation More Than A Mother declared, “I am eager to commence the implementation of the ‘Educating Linda’ Program, which seeks to empower girls through education and eradicate child marriage. This program resonates deeply with me as I see it as one of my primary goals as the First Lady of Angola; and as an African woman, I firmly believe that education for girls is among the most vital sectors for women’s empowerment. Additionally, I am thrilled about the 8 significant competitions for our communities, including Best Media, Song, Film, and Fashion awards aimed at encouraging media professionals, musicians, fashion designers, filmmakers, students, and aspiring talents in these domains to play their crucial roles in educating their communities about various pressing social and health concerns.”

H.E. Madam BRIGITTE TOUADERA, The First Lady of Central Africa & Ambassador of Merck Foundation More Than A Mother emphasized, “I deeply appreciate our partnership with Merck Foundation that has been in place since 2015, aiding us in advancing and enhancing the healthcare capacity in our nation by providing scholarships to our local physicians across various medical specialties. Together, we have worked on the “Empowering Berna” program, where we established small enterprises for women facing infertility and childlessness, providing them training to manage their businesses so they can generate income and lead independent lives filled with purpose. Additionally, as part of Merck Foundation’s Educating Linda program, we will be extending scholarships to 20 disadvantaged schoolgirls in our nation to promote girls’ education. Moreover, 5 scholarships have been awarded to our doctors thus far in the fields of Oncology and Diabetes.”