DUBAI: Merck Foundation Chairman, CEO, and 14 First Ladies inaugurate the 7th Edition of Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative - MFFLI Summit in Dubai. The event was conducted by Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany, on 19th and 20th June in the United Arab Emirates. It was inaugurated by Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp, Chairman of Merck Foundation Board of Trustees, and Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation and President of Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative, along with The First Ladies of 14 African and Asian countries, who joined as the Guests of Honor and Keynote Speakers.
According to African Press Organization, Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej emphasized the importance of the summit, welcoming the esteemed Guests of Honor and Keynote Speakers, The First Ladies of Africa and Asia, and Ambassadors of the More Than a Mother campaign. The summit served as a platform for sharing valuable experiences and engaging in discussions on the impact of programs aimed at transforming patient care and raising awareness of critical social and health issues.
Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg Haverkamp highlighted Merck Foundation's mission to improve overall health and well-being through building healthcare capacity and providing access to quality healthcare solutions across Africa, Asia, and beyond. He acknowledged the support and collaboration of the Ambassadors and partners in working towards the vision of a world where everyone can lead a healthy life.
The First Ladies of 14 countries, who are also Ambassadors of Merck Foundation More Than a Mother, participated as Guests of Honor and Keynote Speakers. These countries included Angola, Cabo Verde, the Central African Republic, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Maldives, Mozambique, Nigeria, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, and Zimbabwe.
Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej shared that Merck Foundation has provided more than 2500 scholarships for young doctors from 52 countries in 44 critical and underserved specialties, with many alumni becoming the first specialists in their countries. The conference also marked World Infertility Awareness Month through the Merck Foundation More Than a Mother campaign, which aims to empower infertile and childless women by providing access to information and education.
During the summit, two significant milestones were celebrated: the 8th Anniversary of Merck Foundation and 13 years of its development programs. The first day included a high-level panel discussion with participating First Ladies and a ministerial panel with African Ministers and healthcare experts. The second day featured sessions on Oncology, Fertility Topics, and Merck Foundation Health Media Training, focusing on the media's role in influencing communities on social and health issues.
The hybrid format of the conference allowed over 6,000 audiences from more than 70 countries to engage safely and effectively. Countries participating included Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, and several others from various continents.
The summit was streamed live on the social media handles of Merck Foundation and Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej, enabling wider participation. Merck Foundation continues to impact underserved communities through various initiatives, including training media persons, launching awards, producing songs and storybooks, and empowering underprivileged African schoolgirls with scholarships.