Merck Foundation provides more than 2080 scholarships

MARGARET CHISANGA
Lusaka
PRESIDENT of Tanzania, Samia Suluhu Hassan, has lauded the Merck Foundation for their long-term commitment to building healthcare and media capacity in Africa.
She further appealed to Merck Foundations not to relent in contributing to improving access to quality and equitable healthcare solutions and building healthcare capacity in many critical and underserved medical fields.
She was speaking when she officially opened the 11th Edition of the Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary 2024, together with Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp, Chairman of Merck Foundation Board of Trustees.
The Two-day conference is being held in Tanzania.
Merck Foundation has provided more than 2080 scholarships to young doctors from 52 countries in 44 critical and underserved specialties, with many of the Merck Foundation Alumni becoming the first specialists in their countries.
And CEO of Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck Germany, Rasha Kelej, said the conference is designed to raise awareness of critical social and health issues which include Supporting Girls’ Education, Ending Child Marriage, Stopping Gender-Based Violence, Breaking Infertility Stigma, Ending FGM, Women’s Empowerment, and Diabetes and Hypertension Awareness.
“I would especially like to thank the Government of Tanzania, our Steering Committee, and all our Partners for their valuable participation and unwavering support in making these great achievements possible,” she said.
The annual conference has been held in hybrid model to enable more than 6000 participants from more than 70 countries to benefit, meet and discuss strategies and solutions for the health and social challenges in their countries safely and effectively.
“I am proud to share with you all that Merck Foundation has provided more than 2080 scholarships to young doctors from 52 countries in 44 critical and underserved specialties including Diabetes, Endocrinology, Oncology, Cardiovascular, Fertility Care, Embryology, Sexual & Reproductive Medicine, Internal Medicine, Respiratory Medicine, Acute Medicine, Critical Care, Pediatric Emergency, Gastroenterology, Rheumatology, Clinical Psychiatry, Urology, Ophthalmology, General Surgery, Trauma & Orthopedic, Dermatology, Neonatal
Care, Pain Management, Emergency & Resuscitation, Laparoscopic Surgical Skills,” she said.
Merck Foundation initiated this strategic approach to build and enhance healthcare capacity in 2012, in partnership with African First Ladies together with Ministries of Health and Medical Societies.
“This has significantly contributed towards reshaping the public healthcare sector and transforming patient care landscape in 52 countries in Africa, Asia and beyond,” she said.
She urged all to watch media projects such as “Sugar-Free Jude,” “Mark’s Pressure,”, “Jackline’s Rescue”, “A Ride into the Future,” and “More Than a Mother”, which have been developed to raise awareness about Diabetes and Hypertension Prevention, supporting Girls’ Education, ending Child Marriage and breaking Infertility Stigma in Africa and beyond, in an engaging and entertaining way.
The edition has been attended by the First Ladies of Burundi, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabonese Republic, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Maldives, Malawi, Mozambique, Sao Tome and Principe, Zanzibar and Zimbabwe.