DUBAI: Merck Foundation, the charitable extension of Merck KGaA Germany, has inaugurated the 7th Edition of the Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative - MFFLI Summit 2025 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The event, held on June 19th and 20th, was spearheaded by Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp, Chairman of the Merck Foundation Board of Trustees, and Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation, alongside 14 First Ladies from African and Asian countries who participated as Guests of Honor and Keynote Speakers.
According to African Press Organization, the summit served as a crucial platform for exchanging valuable experiences and engaging in discussions on the impact of Merck's programs, which aim to enhance patient care and raise awareness of essential social and health issues. Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej highlighted the significance of the event, expressing honor in welcoming the esteemed First Ladies and Ambassadors of the More Than a Mother campaign.
The Merck Foundation aims to improve health and well-being by building healthcare capacity and ensuring access to equitable healthcare solutions across Africa, Asia, and beyond. Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg Haverkamp expressed gratitude to the foundation's Ambassadors and partners for their unwavering support and collaboration towards a vision of a healthier global community.
The First Ladies, who are also Ambassadors of the More Than a Mother campaign, included representatives from Angola, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Maldives, Mozambique, Nigeria, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, and Zimbabwe. Senator Dr. Kelej noted the historical transformation of patient care across Africa through the foundation's efforts, including the provision of over 2,500 scholarships to young doctors from 52 countries in 44 critical and underserved specialties.
In conjunction with the summit, the World Infertility Awareness Month was marked, reinforcing Merck Foundation's commitment to empowering infertile and childless women through education and mindset change. Over 700 scholarships have been dedicated to training in fertility care and women's health, aiming to improve access to these services.
The summit also celebrated Merck Foundation's 8th anniversary and 13 years of developmental programs. A high-level panel discussion was conducted on the first day, featuring the First Ladies and African Ministers, along with healthcare experts. The second day focused on parallel sessions on oncology, fertility, and the Merck Foundation Health Media Training, which highlighted the media's role in influencing change in social and health issues.
The hybrid format of the conference allowed over 6,000 participants from more than 70 countries to engage in discussions and solutions for health and social challenges. The event was live-streamed on Merck Foundation and Dr. Rasha Kelej's social media channels to reach a broader audience.
Merck Foundation's initiatives also include training over 3,700 media persons, launching eight annual awards for media coverage, producing songs and children's storybooks to address social issues, and creating animated films to raise awareness on health matters. Furthermore, over 1,040 scholarships have been provided to underprivileged African schoolgirls to empower their education.