Healthcare Capacity Is the Foundation of Progress” – Merck Foundation
Merck Foundation has reinforced its commitment to transforming patient care and strengthening healthcare systems across Africa and Asia following high-level engagements at the 12th Africa Asia Luminary Conference, held in partnership with the Government of The Gambia.
The conference was co-chaired by H.E. Mrs Fatoumatta Bah-Barrow, First Lady of The Gambia and Ambassador of Merck Foundation’s More Than a Mother initiative, and Dr Rasha Kelej, Chief Executive Officer of Merck Foundation and President of More Than a Mother.
The event brought together Nigeria’s First Lady, H.E. Senator Oluremi Tinubu, alongside the First Ladies of Burundi, Central African Republic, Liberia, São Tomé and Príncipe, and Senegal, who attended as guests of honour and keynote speakers.
Speaking at the conference, Dr Kelej said she was pleased to strengthen collaboration with Nigeria’s First Lady to advance healthcare capacity in the country. She revealed that Merck Foundation has so far provided 82 scholarships to Nigerian healthcare professionals in critical and underserved specialties, including fertility and reproductive health, oncology, diabetes and endocrinology, cardiology, psychiatry, critical care and geriatric medicine.
“These scholarships are building a sustainable healthcare ecosystem by empowering local doctors to deliver specialised care within their own communities,” Dr Kelej said, adding that the foundation would continue supporting Nigeria and other countries across the continent.
Senator Oluremi Tinubu welcomed the partnership, describing it as impactful and far-reaching. She highlighted the Educating Linda Programme, through which annual scholarships will be awarded to 71 high-performing but underprivileged Nigerian schoolgirls until completion of secondary school. She stressed that girls’ education remains central to building healthier and stronger nations.
The two-day conference featured keynote addresses by African First Ladies, a high-level ministerial panel on scientific research capacity building, and a meeting of the Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative (MFFLI), during which country impact reports were reviewed and future strategies agreed.
Merck Foundation also announced calls for applications for eight annual awards targeting media professionals, musicians, filmmakers, fashion designers and students, aimed at raising awareness of health and social issues. In addition, the foundation launched a series of children’s storybooks addressing topics such as infertility stigma, girls’ education, gender-based violence, diabetes and hypertension, with thousands of copies to be distributed in schools.
Since 2012, Merck Foundation has provided more than 2,400 scholarships to healthcare providers from 52 countries in 44 medical specialties, while also training thousands of journalists and creatives to promote public awareness on critical social and health challenges.
The 12th Africa Asia Luminary Conference was livestreamed globally, further amplifying Merck Foundation’s mission to build healthcare capacity, empower women and transform patient care across underserved communities.
