Merck Foundation Expands Healthcare Capacity in Burundi with 55 Medical Scholarships
Merck Foundation Chief Executive Officer, Senator Dr Rasha Kelej (Ret.), has met Burundi’s First Lady, H.E. Madam Angeline Ndayishimiye, to review progress and strengthen their partnership on healthcare capacity building and girls’ education during the 12th Edition of the Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary.
The high-level engagement took place on the sidelines of the annual conference held in Banjul, The Gambia, which was organised in partnership with the Government of The Gambia and co-chaired by the country’s First Lady, H.E. Mrs Fatoumatta Bah-Barrow, alongside Dr Kelej.
Dr Kelej said the partnership between Merck Foundation and Burundi, which began in 2020, has delivered tangible results, including the provision of 55 scholarships for Burundian doctors in critical and underserved medical specialties.
“These scholarships span areas such as oncology, fertility and embryology, diabetes, endocrinology, sexual and reproductive health, respiratory medicine, acute care, and preventive cardiovascular medicine,” she said, adding that more doctors would be enrolled in the coming years to further strengthen Burundi’s healthcare system.
She noted that the collaboration has already led to major milestones, including the establishment of Burundi’s first public IVF centre and the country’s first diabetes centre, both set up by graduates of Merck Foundation training programmes.
First Lady Angeline Ndayishimiye commended Merck Foundation for its long-standing development programmes and highlighted the impact of the scholarships on Burundi’s health sector.
“One of the graduates of the diabetes programme has established the first diabetes centre in Burundi, while trained fertility specialists and embryologists are now serving at our first public IVF centre,” she said.
Beyond healthcare, the First Lady said Merck Foundation is also supporting girls’ education through annual scholarships awarded to 40 high-performing but underprivileged girls under the Educating Linda programme.
“Education is the way forward to empower our girls and secure a better future for our country,” she said.
During the conference, African First Ladies and ministers participated in high-level discussions on healthcare development, while the Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative committee reviewed impact reports and future strategies across participating countries.
Merck Foundation has so far provided more than 2,500 scholarships to healthcare professionals from 52 countries in 44 underserved medical specialties, as part of its mission to build sustainable healthcare capacity across Africa and Asia.
In Burundi, the Foundation has also launched nine children’s storybooks addressing social and health issues such as infertility stigma, girls’ education, child marriage, gender-based violence, diabetes, hypertension, and cancer. Thousands of copies have been distributed to schools nationwide.
Merck Foundation and the First Lady of Burundi have further partnered to train journalists through health media programmes and launched annual awards recognising excellence in media, music, film, fashion, and creative advocacy.
Dr Kelej reaffirmed Merck Foundation’s commitment to Burundi, stating that the organisation would continue working closely with national leaders to strengthen healthcare systems, empower women and girls, and create long-term social impact.
