Merck Foundation and Cabo Verde’s First Lady Strengthen Long-Term Healthcare Partnership Through New MoU
Merck Foundation has reinforced its long-standing partnership with the Office of the First Lady of Cabo Verde through the signing of a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), aimed at strengthening the country’s healthcare and media capacity.
The agreement was formalised during a high-level meeting between Dr Rasha Kelej, Chief Executive Officer of Merck Foundation, and H.E. Dr Débora Katisa Carvalho, First Lady of Cabo Verde and Ambassador of the “More Than a Mother” campaign, at the 7th Edition of the Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative Summit 2025.
Dr Kelej described the meeting as “an important milestone” in the joint effort to advance medical training in Cabo Verde, noting that young doctors have already begun receiving scholarships in critical fields such as oncology and fertility.
First Lady Dr Carvalho commended the partnership’s impact, highlighting the introduction of the Merck Foundation Scholarships Programme and the Educating Linda Initiative, through which 42 students across the country have been supported to continue their education. She emphasised that “education is the foundation of every thriving nation”.
The Summit also featured the Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative (MFFLI) committee meeting, where African and Asian First Ladies reviewed progress reports and discussed future strategies for expanding healthcare access and improving advocacy on social and health issues.
Merck Foundation confirmed plans to enrol additional Cabo Verdean doctors in a range of medical specialties, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health. Since 2012, the Foundation has awarded more than 2,400 scholarships to doctors from 52 countries.
In partnership with the First Lady, Merck Foundation has also completed two editions of Online Health Media Training, equipping journalists with the skills needed to report on sensitive social and health matters. In addition, the Foundation announced the opening of applications for eight creative and media awards, aimed at journalists, musicians, designers, filmmakers, and emerging talent.
The partnership further expanded its educational footprint with the launch of seven Portuguese-language children’s storybooks addressing issues such as infertility stigma, gender-based violence, diabetes, hypertension, and girls’ education.
The 7th Edition of the Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative Summit was streamed live across multiple social media platforms, reaching audiences across Africa and beyond.
