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From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA, Germany, has strengthened its partnership with African First Ladies to expand opportunities for women and girls to access quality education and healthcare for improved participation and contribution to global society.
They renewed the commitment at the 12th Merck Foundation Africa/Asia Luminary holding in Banjul, The Gambia, chaired by the Foundation’s CEO, Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej, with the First Lady of The Gambia, Madame Fatoumatta Bah-Barrow, in Banjul, as co-chair.
The meeting also brought together First Ladies from across Africa, government ministers, healthcare experts, policy makers, and media professionals, including the First Lady of Nigeria, Mrs Oluremi Tinubu.
The Foundation described the partnership with almost 30 African First Ladies as a powerful force for change, and highlighted several programmes that provide scholarships and training for healthcare professionals, support for women with fertility challenges, as well as sustained campaigns against gender-based violence and child marriage.
In her address, the Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation, Dr. Rasha Kelej, revealed that through the partnerships with over 30 African First Ladies, the Foundation has awarded more than 2,400 scholarships to doctors and healthcare providers from 52 countries since 2012 creating the first oncologists, diabetologists, and fertility specialists in several nations.
She said: “Before our intervention, some countries like Burundi, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and The Gambia had no specialists in key fields such as oncology, fertility, or ICU care. Patients either had to travel abroad or had no access to treatment at all.
“It’s really an amazing programme, and these scholarships have actually transformed the patient care landscape in the public sectors in all these countries. Today, we are changing that story.
“For The Gambia, the partnership’s impact has been nothing short of transformational. 94 healthcare professionals in The Gambia have benefitted from Merck Foundation scholarships, a remarkable number for a small country, strengthening local capacity in oncology, respiratory care, paediatrics, and reproductive medicine.
Chairman, Merck Foundation Board of Trustees, Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp lamented the impact of mass exodus of healthcare workers in the African health sector, which has led to a shortage of medical and healthcare personnel.
He noted that Merck Foundation’s long-term goal was not only to train individuals but also to transform the entire healthcare system by building sustainable local expertise that reduces medical tourism and saves lives.
Stangenberg-Haverkamp stressed the need for Africa to urgently build human capacity in healthcare, lamenting that the shortage of medical and healthcare personnel has been one of the most critical barriers to access quality healthcare across the continent.
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“Africa carries 24 per cent of the world’s disease burden but has only a few healthcare workers per 1,000 people. Our scholarships aim to bridge this gap. Many of our alumni are now the first specialists in their countries.
“We believe that good healthcare can transform the lives of individuals and families across developing countries. Its significance contributes to the economic and social development of any country because healthcare is a major driver of both,” he added.
According to him, the Foundation’s training programmes currently span 44 critical specialities from oncology, endocrinology, and cardiovascular medicine to clinical psychiatry and neonatal care.
Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, in her remarks, highlighted the importance of robust and positive collaborations as vital sources of hope for families across Nigeria, emphasising the role of shared values in building stronger health systems and expanding educational access.
She praised the Merck Foundation CEO, Rasha Kelej, for the Foundation’s interventions that Nigerian doctors have benefited from through multiple scholarships which include 14 scholarships for a one-year diploma in fertility and embryology, and a two-year master’s degree in sexual and reproductive care, women’s health, and family medicine.
“Additional scholarships include 40 for diplomas and master’s degrees in diabetes, endocrinology, preventive cardiovascular medicine, cardiology, obesity, and weight management, as well as three for oncology research, medical oncology, and pain management,” she said.
First Lady of The Gambia, Madame Fatoumatta Bah-Barrow, in her speech lamented that Africa still witness an overburdened and under resourced health sector, revealed that about 100 Gambian doctors have thus far received scholarships over the years from the Foundation to advance their training and bolster the country’s public health sector.
“Together, we are empowering professionals, uplifting women and giving the next generation of Africans a healthier, more hopeful future. Educated girls grow into empowered women who drive social and economic development,” said Prof. Haverkamp. “Health and education must go hand-in-hand.
“As First Ladies, we are not only symbolic figures, we are mothers, caregivers, and servants with a unique platform to uplift the voices of the vulnerable and marginalized, ensuring that no one is left behind,” she added.
