Merck Foundation Strengthens Healthcare and Social Impact at First Ladies Initiative Summit 2025
Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany, has reaffirmed its commitment to transforming healthcare and addressing social challenges across Africa and Asia during the 7th Edition of the Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative (MFFLI) Summit 2025 in Monrovia, Liberia.
The summit was inaugurated by Prof. Dr Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp, Chairman of the Merck Foundation Board of Trustees; Senator Dr Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation and President of MFFLI; and H.E. Mrs Kartumu Yarta Boakai, First Lady of Liberia and Ambassador of Merck Foundation’s “More Than a Mother” campaign. They were joined by First Ladies from 13 African and Asian nations, including Angola, Cabo Verde, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, and the Maldives.
Speaking at the event, Dr Kelej highlighted Merck Foundation’s work in Liberia, noting that 50 scholarships have been awarded to young Liberian doctors in critical fields such as oncology, fertility, diabetes, paediatrics and dermatology. She emphasised that many of these doctors are the first specialists in the country’s public healthcare system, underscoring the long-term value of capacity building.
Mrs Boakai expressed pride in the partnership, stressing the impact beyond healthcare. “Together, we have not only supported the education of doctors but also advanced women’s empowerment through the Educating Linda programme, which is providing education to 20 deserving girls. Our current Minister of Health is a distinguished Merck Foundation alumnus – proof of the long-lasting impact of this initiative,” she said.
The summit also featured the launch of a call for applications for eight awards, targeting journalists, musicians, fashion designers, filmmakers, students and emerging talents. In addition, Merck Foundation announced that, in partnership with the Office of the First Lady of Liberia, children’s storybooks will be introduced to tackle infertility stigma, promote girl education, and raise awareness on social and health issues such as gender-based violence, diabetes and hypertension.
Since its inception, Merck Foundation has provided over 2,280 scholarships to doctors from 52 countries in more than 44 underserved medical specialties. It has also trained more than 3,700 media professionals from 35 countries to raise awareness on health and social issues, supported over 950 disadvantaged schoolgirls to complete their studies, and produced a wide range of educational content, including children’s storybooks, songs, films, and the pan-African TV programme Our Africa by Merck Foundation.
The MFFLI Summit 2025 also included a committee meeting where First Ladies presented country-level impact reports and discussed strategies for scaling up healthcare capacity building and social development programmes. Merck Foundation’s initiatives continue to shape healthcare systems, challenge cultural barriers, and amplify women’s empowerment across Africa, Asia and beyond.
