Forging a Healthier Tomorrow: Merck Foundation and First Ladies Unite for 2025 Vision

By Prince Kurupati

The Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary 2024, 11th Edition, served as a dynamic platform for collaboration, bringing together Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation, and First Ladies from Africa and Asia. This annual event spotlighted urgent global healthcare priorities, including the elimination of infertility stigma, enhanced access to specialized care in oncology and diabetes, and bolstering media capacity to raise health awareness.

The First Ladies and Dr. Kelej underscored the importance of education and advocacy, urging decisive action by 2025 to establish sustainable healthcare systems. Notable discussions focused on innovative programs to empower medical professionals through scholarships and training while fostering cultural shifts to address societal taboos surrounding infertility.

In her address, Dr. Kelej emphasized that equitable access to healthcare and education is pivotal for achieving transformative societal change. The event also showcased the foundation's impactful initiatives, such as partnerships to improve healthcare infrastructures and strategic collaborations with media to amplify public health campaigns.

In her address, Dr. Kelej stated that “Merck Foundation’s partnership with the First Ladies has been crucial in achieving this milestone of transforming the patient care landscape and leading Africa and Asia toward a better, healthier, and stronger future.”

All the First Ladies who were part of the gathering broadcast live across various platforms, including all social media handles of Merck Foundation and Senator Dr. Kelej outlined how the partnerships between their countries and the Merck Foundation were ushering tangible results on the healthcare front.

Zimbabwean First Lady H.E. Amai Dr. Auxillia Mnangagwa stated, “We have a long standing partnership with Merck Foundation, since 2019, and we have been able to provide 122 scholarships to young Zimbabwean doctors in many critical and undeserved specialties… it is history in the making. Additionally, through the ‘Educating Linda’ program to support girls education, we have provided scholarships to 40 schoolgirls to complete their education by covering their tuition fees till they graduate.”

Mozambique First Lady H.E. Isaura Ferrao Nyusi was also grateful for the support that her country has received thanks to its partnership with the Merck Foundation. In her address, the First Lady said, “I am proud to share that through our partnership with Merck Foundation, we are strengthening healthcare capacity in my country. We have so far provided 16 scholarships to our Mozambican medical graduates, of which 14 scholarships have been provided for the Diabetes Master course, specially developed in the Portuguese language. These scholarships are very critical for us since in Mozambique as per the available data, there are more than 86% cases of undiagnosed diabetes.”

The Mozambique First Lady went further, stating, “Moreover, as a part of Merck Foundation More Than a Mother campaign, we organized Online Health Media Training for our journalists to emphasize the important role that media plays to influence our society to raise awareness on a wide range of social and health issues. The training session benefitted many of our journalists.”

This gathering not only highlighted shared goals but reinforced the collective responsibility of governments, organizations, and communities to work towards an inclusive and healthier future. Through collaboration, the Merck Foundation and its partners continue to inspire impactful actions to improve the lives of millions globally.