First Lady and Merck Foundation Lead Drive to Reshape Patient Care in The Gambia
The Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany, has reaffirmed its commitment to transforming patient care in The Gambia through its continued partnership with H.E. Mrs Fatoumatta Bah-Barrow, First Lady of the Republic of The Gambia and Ambassador of Merck Foundation’s “More Than a Mother” initiative.
The announcement was made during the 7th Edition of the Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative (MFFLI) Summit, held recently in Banjul. The summit, 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 President of the MFFLI, brought together First Ladies from 13 African and Asian nations, including Angola, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Maldives, Mozambique, Nigeria, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, and Zimbabwe.
Since the partnership began in 2017, Merck Foundation and The Gambia’s First Lady have provided 87 scholarships to local doctors across critical and underserved specialties. These include oncology (27 scholarships), fertility and embryology, sexual and reproductive care (23 scholarships), diabetes (six scholarships), respiratory care, acute medicine, infectious diseases, and neonatal care. The initiative has enabled the training of the country’s first specialists in many of these areas, greatly reducing the need for patients to seek care abroad.
Dr Rasha Kelej expressed pride in the achievements: “We have made history in The Gambia by providing training for the first specialists in several key medical fields. Together with the First Lady and the Ministry of Health, we will continue to strengthen healthcare capacity and improve access to equitable patient care.”
First Lady Bah-Barrow highlighted the impact of the collaboration: “Eighty-seven scholarships for Gambian doctors is a significant achievement for our country. It directly contributes to health security, economic growth, and social development. Through the Educating Linda programme, we are also supporting the education of 40 underprivileged but high-performing schoolgirls annually, giving them the tools to shape a brighter future.”
In addition to medical training, Merck Foundation has worked with The Gambia’s First Lady to launch children’s storybooks, such as More Than a Mother, Educating Linda, and Sugar-free Jude, which tackle infertility stigma, gender-based violence, and awareness on diabetes and hypertension. The foundation has also held three editions of its Online Health Media Training in The Gambia, empowering local journalists to report on health and social issues effectively.
The summit further announced calls for applications for eight awards in partnership with the First Lady of The Gambia, targeting media professionals, musicians, fashion designers, filmmakers, students, and emerging talents to use art and communication as tools for social change.
Since its establishment, the Merck Foundation has provided more than 2,280 scholarships for doctors from 52 countries in 44 critical and underserved medical fields. It has also trained over 3,700 media professionals from 35 countries, launched awareness campaigns including 30 songs and eight children’s storybooks, and supported over 950 underprivileged schoolgirls across Africa.
Dr Kelej noted: “Merck Foundation is not only building healthcare capacity but also driving a cultural shift in addressing stigma, inequality, and lack of awareness around health issues in Africa and Asia. With our partners, we are reshaping the future of healthcare for generations to come.”
The 7th Edition of the MFFLI Summit was streamed live on Merck Foundation and Dr Rasha Kelej’s social media platforms, enabling millions to witness the commitments made by First Ladies and partners to advance healthcare and social development across Africa and Asia.
