Africa, In the vibrant city of Mumbai, India, on the 18th of October 2023, a significant and transformative event took place. The 10th Edition of the “Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary” unfolded with great pomp and purpose. This annual conference, orchestrated by the Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the esteemed Merck KGaA Germany, represents a pivotal moment in the global healthcare landscape.
The Luminary, a collaboration with the Tata Memorial Centre and the Department of Atomic Energy, received notable support from various Indian ministries, including the Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Home Affairs, and the Ministry of Health. The State Protocol Office of the Government of Maharashtra and Krishna World University, Karad, also played key roles in making this event a reality.
Inaugurated by Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp, Chairman of the Merck Foundation Board of Trustees, and Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation and Chairperson of the Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary, the event was graced by the presence of distinguished First Ladies from 11 African countries. Their names are a testament to their commitment to advancing healthcare and social causes:
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. Dr. DÉBORA KATISA CARVALHO, The First Lady of the Republic of Cabo Verde
H.E. Madam BRIGITTE TOUADERA, The First Lady of the Central African Republic
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. MARIA DE FATIMA VILA NOVA, The First Lady of the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe
H.E. Amai Dr. AUXILLIA MNANGAGWA, The First Lady of the Republic of Zimbabwe
H.E. Madam DENISE NYAKERU TSHISEKEDI, The First Lady of the Democratic Republic of The Congo
Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej, the driving force behind the Merck Foundation’s impactful initiatives, expressed her pride in welcoming these distinguished guests, who also serve as Ambassadors of the “More Than a Mother” campaign. Notably, this marked the first time the Luminary was conducted in India, signifying the event’s growing global reach.
The Luminary served as a platform for sharing experiences and discussing the far-reaching impact of the Merck Foundation’s programs. These initiatives are designed to transform patient care and raise awareness on a diverse range of sensitive and critical social and health issues. In an inspiring declaration, Senator Kelej highlighted the celebration of Cancer Awareness Month, showcasing the Merck Foundation’s commitment to providing 138 scholarships for Oncology Training in various sub-specialties to doctors from 37 African countries. Many of these scholars have gone on to become the first oncologists in their respective nations, a testament to the Merck Foundation’s pioneering work on the continent.
Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp, who chairs both the Executive Board of E.Merck KG and the Merck Foundation Board of Trustees, delivered a powerful message at the Luminary. He emphasized the foundation’s mission to improve overall health and well-being by building healthcare capacity and providing equitable healthcare solutions in Africa, Asia, and beyond.
His gratitude extended to the partners, African First Ladies, healthcare experts, policy makers, government officials, academia, and media representatives from over 70 countries. They all joined hands to realize the vision of the Merck Foundation, which seeks to ensure that “Everyone can lead a Healthy and Happy life.”
One of the most remarkable achievements of the Merck Foundation is the provision of more than 1,700 scholarships to young doctors from 50 countries. These scholarships span 42 critical and underserved medical specialties, including Oncology, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Preventive, and many more. What’s particularly striking is that many of the beneficiaries of these scholarships are becoming the first specialists in their respective countries. India played a significant role in this endeavor, as state-of-the-art clinical training was provided at prestigious institutions like the Tata Memorial Center, Manipal University, Maharashtra University, Krishna University, Indra IVF Training, and more.
Senator Kelej expressed her joy in celebrating a decade of partnership with their esteemed Indian collaborators during the Luminary. This not only marked a milestone but also symbolized the steadfast commitment of the Merck Foundation and its partners to advancing healthcare capacity in underserved regions.
The 10th Edition of the Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary was a two-day affair that held an array of activities. On the first day, the Plenary Session featured the Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative Summit, a high-level panel meeting that delved into crucial matters related to healthcare and social change. On the second day, five parallel Medical and Scientific Sessions unfolded, covering areas such as Oncology, Diabetes & Hypertension, Fertility and Reproductive Care, and medical capacity building in various specialties including respiratory care, acute care, pediatric emergency care, neonatal care, and more. Furthermore, a community awareness session was conducted, along with the Merck Foundation Health Media Training session for African journalists.
The training aimed to highlight the essential role that journalists play in influencing their communities, with a focus on issues like breaking infertility stigma, supporting girl education, ending gender-based violence, halting child marriage, eliminating female genital mutilation, and empowering women at all levels.
Conclusion: African first ladies
The significance of the event extended to the broad range of countries that participated in the 10th Edition of the Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary. These included nations from different corners of the world, such as Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Central Africa Republic, Cambodia, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, the Republic of the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, France, Gabon, Germany, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea-Conakry, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Peru, the Philippines, Russia, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tanzania, Thailand, The Gambia, Togo, Tunisia, U.A.E, UK, Uganda, US, Vietnam, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and more. The Luminary’s impressive reach made it a melting pot of knowledge, expertise, and global collaboration.
To ensure that this monumental event reached a wider audience, it was live-streamed on the social media platforms of the Merck Foundation and Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej. This digital presence allowed individuals from around the world to witness and participate in the anniversary.
Source: The Guardian
