Merck Foundation Transforms Cardiovascular Care in Africa
As the world marks World Hypertension Day 2025, the Merck Foundation has reaffirmed its commitment to transforming cardiovascular and diabetes care across Africa and beyond.
In collaboration with African First Ladies, Ministries of Health, medical societies, and academia, the Foundation has provided 863 scholarships for doctors in 52 countries, as part of its “Nationwide Diabetes & Hypertension Blue Points Program.”
Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation, highlighted that the scholarships—ranging from online PG diplomas and Master’s degrees to onsite clinical fellowships in India—target underserved areas, expanding access to care beyond capital cities.
“These programs help ensure that quality medical care reaches the grassroots, tackling hypertension and diabetes—two of Africa’s leading health threats,” she said.
To date, the Foundation has awarded over 2,270 scholarships across 44 critical and underserved medical specialties.
In Ghana, Dr. Dzifa Ahadzi, a Merck Foundation alumna, praised the initiative, saying it enabled her to establish a heart failure clinic that now serves patients with conditions such as postpartum cardiomyopathy and cardio-oncology complications.
With WHO data showing Africa has the highest global prevalence of hypertension—affecting around 27% of adults—Merck Foundation has also launched community education initiatives. These include the animated film “Mark’s Pressure”, and episodes of the pan-African TV show “Our Africa”, which promote healthy habits in multiple languages.
To amplify public awareness, Merck Foundation is also running the 2025 editions of its Media, Film, Fashion, and Song Awards under the theme “Diabetes & Hypertension”, inviting submissions until October 30, 2025.
