First Lady, Merck Foundation Boost Zimbabwe’s Healthcare
Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany, has reinforced its partnership with Zimbabwe to reshape healthcare delivery and expand access to specialised medical services.
This comes as Senator Dr Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation and President of the Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative (MFFLI), hosted the 7th Edition of the MFFLI Summit alongside Her Excellency Amai Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa, First Lady of Zimbabwe and Ambassador of Merck Foundation “More Than a Mother.”
The high-level summit, inaugurated by Prof Dr Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp, Chairman of the Merck Foundation Board of Trustees, brought together First Ladies from across Africa and Asia to discuss strategies for transforming patient care.
Dr Kelej praised Zimbabwe’s commitment since 2019, highlighting the provision of 130 scholarships to young Zimbabwean doctors across 44 underserved specialties. These include diabetes, oncology, fertility, psychiatry, and neurology – areas vital for strengthening the nation’s health system.
“Together, we are building a strong and self-reliant healthcare workforce in Zimbabwe that can deliver specialised and equitable care to communities in need,” said Dr Kelej.
First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa emphasised the far-reaching impact of the collaboration, noting both the medical scholarships and the Educating Linda initiative, which supports 40 underprivileged Zimbabwean girls to complete their education.
“Through our long-term partnership, we are not only shaping a healthier Zimbabwe but also empowering girls to realise their dreams,” she said.
Merck Foundation has to date awarded over 2,280 scholarships to doctors in Africa and Asia. In Zimbabwe alone, 56 scholarships have strengthened expertise in diabetes and cardiovascular care, while 34 have advanced fertility and reproductive health services. A further 40 have supported training in oncology, neurology, respiratory care, psychiatry, and other critical specialties.
The Foundation also launched calls for applications in eight awards categories for Zimbabwean journalists, musicians, filmmakers, fashion designers, and students to raise awareness on pressing social issues including infertility stigma, gender-based violence, child marriage, FGM, and the importance of girl education.
In partnership with the Office of the First Lady, Merck Foundation has also introduced seven children’s storybooks and five editions of online health media training, fostering advocacy on social and health issues from classrooms to national platforms.
The Summit further featured a committee meeting where First Ladies from participating countries shared impact reports of ongoing programmes and mapped out strategies for future interventions.
With this partnership, Merck Foundation and Zimbabwe’s First Lady continue to demonstrate that patient care goes beyond hospitals – it extends into education, awareness, and empowerment, laying the groundwork for a healthier and more equitable future.
