Merck Foundation Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) meet Nigeria First Lady to start joint programs to transform patient care landscape and address critical social and health issues in the country
Merck Foundation (www.Merck-Foundation.com), the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany underscored their commitment to build healthcare capacity, support girl education and break infertility stigma in Nigeria during their high-level meeting with H.E. Senator OLUREMI TINUBU, CON, The First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The discussion was led by Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg Haverkamp, Chairman of Merck Foundation BOT and Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation.
Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej expressed, 'It was a privilege to meet my dear sister H.E. Senator OLUREMI TINUBU, CON, The First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and officially appoint her to be the Ambassador of 'Merck Foundation More Than a Mother'. During our meeting, we discussed the beginning of our long-term partnership and underscored our commitment towards building healthcare capacity and transforming patient care landscape by providing scholarships for local Nigerian doctors in 42 critical and underserved specialties. We also discussed about addressing critical social and health issues in the country including breaking the infertility stigma and supporting girl education.'
'It gives me great pleasure to share that till today, 63 scholarships have been provided for doctors in Nigeria and affirm our commitment towards enhancing healthcare delivery by providing scholarships for local doctors in Nigeria,' Dr. Rasha Kelej added.
H.E. Senator OLUREMI TINUBU, CON, The First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Ambassador of 'Merck Foundation More Than a Mother' expressed, 'It is a pleasure to welcome and meet the Chairman and CEO of Merck Foundation in our country. I am truly pleased to learn about their impactful and highly beneficial programs, particularly Educating Linda program to support girl education and scholarship program for advancing healthcare capacity. It is encouraging to know that Merck Foundation has provided 63 scholarships to our local doctors in critical medical specialties. I am fully committed to scaling up all their programs to benefit our people.'
Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg Haverkamp, Chairman of Merck Foundation BOT shared, 'It was a great pleasure to meet H.E. Senator OLUREMI TINUBU, CON, The First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and to reinforce our shared commitment to advancing healthcare capacity in Nigeria and across Africa.
Our aim is to improve the overall health and wellbeing of people by building healthcare capacity across Africa, Asia and other developing countries. We are strongly committed to transforming patientcare landscape through our scholarships program. Till today, we have provided more than 2270 scholarships for young doctors from 53 countries in 44 critical and underserved specialties.'
Merck Foundation has provided 63 scholarships for Nigerian doctors, out of which 8 scholarships have been provided for Fertility, Embryology, Sexual&Reproductive Medicine, Biotechnology of Human Assisted Reproduction and Embryology and Women's Health.
Moreover, 38 scholarships have been provided for Diabetes, Preventative Cardiovascular Medicine, Cardiology, Endocrinology and Obesity&Weight Management. After completion of the course, these doctors will be able to establish diabetes or hypertension clinics in their Health Centre or Hospital with the aim to help prevent and manage the disease in their own communities.
Additionally, 17 scholarships have been provided for other critical and underserved specialties like Oncology Research, Clinical Psychiatry, Dermatology in Clinical Practice, Pain Management, Respiratory Medicine, Care of the Older Person, Critical Care, Rheumatology, and more.
Moreover, As a part of their 'Educating Linda' program, Merck Foundation has also sponsored the education of 20 high performing but underprivileged Nigerian schoolgirls.
Merck Foundation has also conducted three edition of Online Health Media Training for the Nigerian journalists, to emphasize on the important role that media plays to influence society to create a cultural shift with the aim to address wide range of social and health issues such as: Breaking Infertility Stigma, Supporting Girl Education, Women Empowerment, Ending Child Marriage, Ending FGM, and/ or Stopping GBV at all levels; to underscore the importance of Empowering Girls and Women in Education and to understand the social and psychological impact of infertility stigma and other social issues like GBV, Child Marriage, FGM etc. over women and their families and communities.
Moreover, to raise awareness of early detection and prevention of Diabetes and Hypertension.
Merck Foundation in partnership with The First Lady of Nigeria has also launched their 8 important Merck Foundation Awards for Media, Musicians&Singers, Fashion Designers, Filmmakers, and students&new potential talents in these fields.
'I invite the young Nigerian talents to share their creative and inspiring work with us. We have celebrated many winners from Nigeria in the previous years and look forward to celebrating winners this year too,' concluded Senator Dr. Kelej.
Details of the Awards:
Merck Foundation Media Recognition Awards 'More Than a Mother' 2025: Media representatives and media students are invited to showcase their work to raise awareness about one or more of the following social issues: Breaking Infertility Stigma and Women Empowerment. Submission deadline: 30 th September 2025.
Merck Foundation Fashion Awards 'More Than a Mother' 2025: All Fashion Students and Designers are invited to create and share designs to deliver strong and influential messages to raise awareness about one or more of the following social issues: Breaking Infertility Stigma and Women Empowerment. Submission deadline: 30 th September 2025.
Merck Foundation Film Awards 'More Than a Mother' 2025: All Filmmakers, Students of Film Making Training Institutions, or Young Talents of Africa are invited to create and share a long or short FILMS, either drama, documentary, or docudrama to deliver strong and influential messages to address one or more of the following social issues: Breaking Infertility Stigma and Women Empowerment. Submission deadline: 30 th September 2025.
Merck Foundation Song Awards 'More Than a Mother' 2025: All Singers and Musical Artists are invited to create and share a SONG with the aim to address one or more of the following social issues: Breaking Infertility Stigma and Women Empowerment. Submission deadline: 30 th September 2025.
Merck Foundation Media Recognition Awards 'Diabetes&Hypertension' 2025: Media representatives are invited to showcase their work through strong and influential messages to promote a healthy lifestyle and raise awareness about the prevention and early detection of Diabetes and Hypertension.
Submission deadline: 30 th October 2025.
Merck Foundation Fashion Awards 'Diabetes&Hypertension' 2025: All Fashion Students and Designers are invited to create and share designs to deliver strong and influential messages to promote a healthy lifestyle and raise awareness about the prevention and early detection of Diabetes and Hypertension.
Submission deadline: 30 th October 2025.
Merck Foundation Film Awards 'Diabetes&Hypertension' 2025: All Filmmakers, Students of Film Making Training Institutions, or Young Talents of Africa are invited to create and share a long or short FILMS, either drama, documentary, or docudrama to deliver strong and influential messages to promote a healthy lifestyle, raise awareness about prevention and early detection of Diabetes and Hypertension.
Submission deadline: 30 th October 2025.
Merck Foundation Song Awards 'Diabetes&Hypertension' 2025: All Singers and Musical Artists are invited to create and share a SONG with the aim to promote a healthy lifestyle and raise awareness about the prevention and early detection of Diabetes and Hypertension.
Submission deadline: 30 th October 2025.
Entries for the above awards can be submitted to us at:
submit@merck-foundation.com
For information on the awards, please visit our website:
www.Merck-Foundation.com
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Merck Foundation.
Contact details:
Mehak Handa
Community Awareness Program Manager
+91 9310087613 / +91 9319606669
mehak.handa@external.merckgroup.com
Join the conversation on our social media platforms below and let your voice be heard!
Facebook: https://apo-opa.co/4k6OnnK
X: https://apo-opa.co/3Z0Amzy
YouTube: https://apo-opa.co/4jmGnOu
Instagram: https://apo-opa.co/4jlQbs0
Threads: https://apo-opa.co/4jmGpG6
Flickr: https://apo-opa.co/3Hen3W5
Website: www.Merck-Foundation.com
Download Merck Foundation App: https://apo-opa.co/4kugQ6K
About Merck Foundation:
The Merck Foundation, established in 2017, is the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany, aims to improve the health and wellbeing of people and advance their lives through science and technology. Our efforts are primarily focused on improving access to quality&equitable healthcare solutions in underserved communities, building healthcare&scientific research capacity, empowering girls in education and empowering people in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) with a special focus on women and youth. All Merck Foundation press releases are distributed by e-mail at the same time they become available on the Merck Foundation Website. Please visit www.Merck-Foundation.com to read more. Follow the social media of Merck Foundation: Facebook (http://apo-opa.co/4k6OnnK), X (http://apo-opa.co/3Z0Amzy), Instagram (http://apo-opa.co/4jlQbs0), YouTube (http://apo-opa.co/4jmGnOu), Threads (http://apo-opa.co/4jmGpG6) and Flickr (http://apo-opa.co/3Hen3W5).
The Merck Foundation is dedicated to improving social and health outcomes for communities in need. While it collaborates with various partners, including governments to achieve its humanitarian goals, the foundation remains strictly neutral in political matters. It does not engage in or support any political activities, elections, or regimes, focusing solely on its mission to elevate humanity and enhance well-being while maintaining a strict non-political stance in all of its endeavors.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Zawya
8 hours ago
- Zawya
A Call to Action to End Cholera in Africa by 2030
On 4 June 2025, twenty African Union Member States most affected by cholera convened for an extraordinary high-level meeting, following a call by Africa CDC and under the leadership of H.E. President Hakainde Hichilema, AU Champion on Cholera. This historic gathering of Heads of State and Government marked a turning point in the fight against cholera across the continent. Leaders endorsed a unified Call-to-Action to eliminate cholera in Africa by 2030—anchored in national ownership, local vaccine production, integrated WASH systems, and coordinated continental response. Africa CDC is committed to supporting Member States and partners to turn this political resolve into measurable action, securing Africa's health sovereignty and ending cholera once and for all. Download the Call-to-Action here. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).
Zawya
9 hours ago
- Zawya
Merck Foundation Officially Appoints the Maldives First Lady as the Ambassador of 'More Than a Mother' to Build Healthcare Capacity, Break Infertility Stigma and Stop Gender-Based Violence (GBV)
Merck Foundation ( the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany underscored their long-term commitment to build healthcare capacity and break infertility stigma in Maldives during their high-level meeting with H.E. Mrs. SAJIDHA MOHAMED, The First Lady of the Republic of Maldives, held at the Official Residence of the President. The discussion led by Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg Haverkamp, Chairman of Merck Foundation BOT and Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation. Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej expressed, 'It was an honor to meet my dear sister H.E. Mrs. SAJIDHA MOHAMED, The First Lady of the Republic of Maldives, and officially appointing her to be the Ambassador of 'Merck Foundation More Than a Mother'. During our meeting we discussed our joint programs and underscored our commitment towards building healthcare capacity and transforming patient care landscape by providing scholarships for local doctors. We also discussed about addressing critical social and health issues in the country including breaking the infertility stigma, stopping gender-based violence, women empowerment, and diabetes and hypertension awareness.' H.E. Mrs. SAJIDHA MOHAMED, The First Lady of the Republic of Maldives and Ambassador of 'Merck Foundation More Than a Mother' expressed, 'It is a pleasure to welcome and meet Merck Foundation Chairman and CEO to our country. We discussed our joint programs. I am happy to share that we have already started providing scholarships for our local doctors in Fertility and Embryology training. These are two very critical specialties for our country. We also plan to enroll our doctors in other specialties, further underscoring our partnership with the Merck Foundation to enhance healthcare capacity in the Maldives.' Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg Haverkamp, Chairman of Merck Foundation BOT shared, 'Our aim is to improve the overall health and wellbeing of people by building healthcare capacity across Africa, Asia and other developing countries. We are strongly committed to transforming patientcare landscape through our scholarships program. Till today, we have provided more than 2270 scholarships for young doctors from 52 countries in 44 critical and underserved specialties.' During their visit to the Maldives, the Chairman and CEO of Merck Foundation also met with Hon. Mr. Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim, Minister of Health, where they discussed scaling up the scholarship programs in alignment with the country's healthcare needs. Through their Community Awareness Programs, Merck Foundation is also closely working with The First Lady of Maldives to address a wide range of critical social issues like breaking infertility stigma, stopping gender-based violence and women empowerment, and important health issues including promoting the importance of healthy lifestyle, and diabetes and hypertension awareness. Merck Foundation will be soon conducting their Health Media Training together with The First Lady of Maldives for the Maldivian journalists, to emphasize on the important role that media plays to influence society to create a cultural shift and be the voice of the voiceless. The training program will be addressed by prominent Medical and Media experts. Moreover, Merck Foundation in partnership with The First Lady of Maldives has also launched their 8 important Merck Foundation Awards for Maldivian Media, Musicians&Singers, Fashion Designers, Filmmakers, and students&new potential talents in these fields. 'I invite the young talents from the Maldives to share their entries with us,' added Senator Dr. Kelej. Details of the Awards: Merck Foundation Media Recognition Awards 'More Than a Mother' 2025, in partnership with The First Lady of Maldives: Media representatives and media students are invited to showcase their work to raise awareness about one or more of the following social issues: Breaking Infertility Stigma and Women Empowerment. Submission deadline: 30 th September 2025. Merck Foundation Fashion Awards 'More Than a Mother' 2025, in partnership with The First Lady of Maldives: All Fashion Students and Designers are invited to create and share designs to deliver strong and influential messages to raise awareness about one or more of the following social issues: Breaking Infertility Stigma and Women Empowerment. Submission deadline: 30 th September 2025. Merck Foundation Film Awards 'More Than a Mother' 2025, in partnership with The First Lady of Maldives: All Filmmakers, Students of Film Making Training Institutions, or Young Talents of Africa are invited to create and share a long or short FILMS, either drama, documentary, or docudrama to deliver strong and influential messages to address one or more of the following social issues: Breaking Infertility Stigma and Women Empowerment. Submission deadline: 30 th September 2025. Merck Foundation Song Awards 'More Than a Mother' 2025, in partnership with The First Lady of Maldives: All Singers and Musical Artists are invited to create and share a SONG with the aim to address one or more of the following social issues: Breaking Infertility Stigma and Women Empowerment. Submission deadline: 30 th September 2025. Merck Foundation Media Recognition Awards 'Diabetes&Hypertension' 2025, in partnership with The First Lady of Maldives: Media representatives are invited to showcase their work through strong and influential messages to promote a healthy lifestyle and raise awareness about the prevention and early detection of Diabetes and Hypertension. Submission deadline: 30 th October 2025. Merck Foundation Fashion Awards 'Diabetes&Hypertension' 2025, in partnership with The First Lady of Maldives: All Fashion Students and Designers are invited to create and share designs to deliver strong and influential messages to promote a healthy lifestyle and raise awareness about the prevention and early detection of Diabetes and Hypertension. Submission deadline: 30 th October 2025. Merck Foundation Film Awards 'Diabetes&Hypertension' 2025, in partnership with The First Lady of Maldives: All Filmmakers, Students of Film Making Training Institutions, or Young Talents of Africa are invited to create and share a long or short FILMS, either drama, documentary, or docudrama to deliver strong and influential messages to promote a healthy lifestyle raise awareness about prevention and early detection of Diabetes and Hypertension. Submission deadline: 30 th October 2025. Merck Foundation Song Awards 'Diabetes&Hypertension' 2025, in partnership with The First Lady of Maldives: All Singers and Musical Artists are invited to create and share a SONG with the aim to promote a healthy lifestyle and raise awareness about the prevention and early detection of Diabetes and Hypertension. Submission deadline: 30 th October 2025. Entries for the above awards can be submitted to us at: submit@ Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Merck Foundation. Join the conversation on our social media platforms below and let your voice be heard! Facebook: X: YouTube: Instagram: Threads: Flickr: Website: Download Merck Foundation App: About Merck Foundation: The Merck Foundation, established in 2017, is the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany, aims to improve the health and wellbeing of people and advance their lives through science and technology. Our efforts are primarily focused on improving access to quality&equitable healthcare solutions in underserved communities, building healthcare&scientific research capacity, empowering girls in education and empowering people in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) with a special focus on women and youth. All Merck Foundation press releases are distributed by e-mail at the same time they become available on the Merck Foundation Website. Please visit to read more. Follow the social media of Merck Foundation: Facebook ( X ( Instagram ( YouTube ( Threads ( and Flickr ( The Merck Foundation is dedicated to improving social and health outcomes for communities in need. While it collaborates with various partners, including governments to achieve its humanitarian goals, the foundation remains strictly neutral in political matters. It does not engage in or support any political activities, elections, or regimes, focusing solely on its mission to elevate humanity and enhance well-being while maintaining a strict non-political stance in all of its endeavors.
Zawya
9 hours ago
- Zawya
Liberia: Ambassador Yin Chengwu Attends Handover Ceremony of Cardiology Department Project Under Paired Hospital Cooperation Mechanism
On June 3, Chinese Ambassador to Liberia Yin Chengwu attended the handover ceremony of the Cardiology Department project under the China-Liberia Paired Hospital Cooperation Mechanism. Also present were Liberian Health Minister Hon. Dr. Louise M. Kpoto, JFK Medical Center Chief Executive Officer Dr. Linda Birch, representatives from Heilongjiang Provincial Hospital, members of the 17th Chinese Medical Team to Liberia, and representatives from JFK Medical Center, totaling about 100 attendees. Minister Dr. Louise Kpoto and CEO Dr. Linda Birch expressed gratitude to the Chinese government for its long-term and strong support to Liberia's health sector. They stated that this project, as Liberia's first dedicated cardiology diagnosis and treatment department, would surely provide higher quality medical services to the people. Ambassador Yin pointed out that the Cardiology Department project is a powerful testament to the friendship between the two peoples, a concrete manifestation of China's policy towards Africa characterized by "sincerity, real results, amity and good faith", and a positive outcome of implementing the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries at the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Beijing Summit. China, ambassador Yin affirmed, will continue to support the development of Liberia's health sector and promote Liberia's ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the Republic of Liberia.
