Merck Foundation: Champions long-term solutions to healthcare inequality

By Veronica Mrema

A persistent shortage of specialist doctors in reproductive health, diagnostics, and chronic disease management continues to challenge many countries across Africa and Asia.

Many countries are also still experiencing barriers to girls’ education, a situation that calls for strategic and well-coordinated efforts to drive positive change in these two critical sectors.

At the forefront, Merck Foundation continues to work closely with various countries across the two continents to address the ongoing challenges facing these sectors.

Health and education are key sectors that directly impact daily life, and for the well-being of societies and nations, they must be strengthened.

For many years, Merck Foundation has been a strong partner in investing in human resources through scholarships for healthcare professionals.

The Foundation has also been funding social programmes aimed at changing negative mindsets into positive ones, including reducing stigma against childless women.

The 13th Edition of the Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary 2026 was held on 18th and 19th June 2026 through a virtual platform, bringing together ambassadors of the Foundation across the two continents.

A key report presented by the Chief Executive Officer of Merck Foundation, Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej, highlighted encouraging progress made in addressing challenges within these sectors.

“We have awarded more than 2,600 scholarships to healthcare professionals from 52 countries worldwide, who have been trained in more than 44 specialties related to areas with critical shortages of experts,” she said.

These specialties include reproductive medicine, embryology, women’s health, laparoscopic surgical skills, mental health, urology, non-communicable diseases, and family medicine.

Data shows that a significant number of graduates from these programmes have become among the first specialist doctors in their respective countries.

This has significantly contributed to transforming healthcare delivery, especially in rural and hard-to-reach areas.

The international conference, held virtually on 18th and 19th June 2026, brought together various leaders including the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Merck Foundation, Professor Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp.

Dr. Rasha further noted that over 800 of the scholarships have been dedicated to key reproductive health areas such as fertility treatment, embryology, sexual and reproductive health, women’s health, clinical psychiatry, surgical skills, and family medicine.

The main goal of these programmes is not only to increase the number of specialists, but to ensure that countries have professionals capable of addressing real and daily healthcare needs of their populations.

The Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Merck Foundation, Professor Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp, stated that the organisation remains committed to strengthening healthcare systems.

“…through long-term investment in training healthcare professionals and improving access to quality and equitable healthcare,” he said.

He emphasized that collaboration between governments, healthcare professionals, policymakers, academic institutions, media, and development partners remains a key pillar in ensuring the success of these programmes.

“We continue to expand and generate positive impact. We are committed to building a world where everyone can access quality healthcare without any form of discrimination,” he said.

“…and this is possible through sustainable investment in human resources,” added Prof. Frank.

The conference was attended by First Ladies from various countries who serve as key ambassadors of the Foundation.

These countries include Angola, Botswana, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Gabon, The Gambia, Kenya, Liberia, Maldives, Mozambique, Nigeria, and São Tomé and Príncipe.

One of the key topics discussed during the conference was infertility and the stigma faced by women who are unable to have children.

Participants emphasized that societies still need a change in mindset to ensure dignity and equal rights for all women.

In support of this cause, the “More Than a Mother” campaign continues to serve as a global platform advocating against infertility stigma.

The campaign also continues to promote the understanding that a woman’s value goes beyond motherhood alone.

The conference also marked World Infertility Awareness Month, observed annually in June, as part of efforts to raise awareness and break the silence surrounding these health and social challenges.

Dr. Rasha emphasized that Merck Foundation is committed to long-term transformation through education, health, and social awareness initiatives.

She stressed that each programme is designed to directly transform lives.

The Foundation has also invested in girls’ education through the “Educating Linda” programme.

This initiative aims to support girls from underprivileged backgrounds to continue and complete their education without interruption.

“More than 1,550 girls from 21 African countries have received educational support covering school fees, books, uniforms, and transport,” she said.

“This initiative ensures they complete their education and achieve their life goals,” she added.

In addition, Merck Foundation has been implementing various social change campaigns through media, arts, music, and film to reach communities in more accessible and engaging ways.

The Foundation has trained over 4,000 media representatives from more than 42 countries on how to effectively report on health and social issues.

This has helped improve public awareness across communities.

It has also introduced eight annual awards that promote creativity in journalism, music, film, and fashion design.

The main goal is to raise awareness on various health and social issues.

In the arts sector, more than 30 songs have been produced by African artists in different languages including English, French, Portuguese, and local languages.

These songs carry messages that promote health awareness, fight stigma, and encourage healthier lifestyles.

The Foundation has also produced nine children’s storybooks in four languages, along with six animated films.

These materials aim to educate people about diabetes, hypertension, cancer, and infertility-related stigma.

In the digital media space, Merck Foundation runs a television programme known as “Our Africa”.

The programme uses arts and lifestyle storytelling to educate communities on health and social issues.

Currently, the Foundation has over 9 million followers across 15 social media platforms, reflecting its strong global outreach and influence.

Overall, the 13th Edition of the Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary 2026 has continued to highlight the importance of international cooperation in strengthening health and education systems.

The Foundation has reiterated that sustainable development cannot be achieved without investing in people, changing societal mindsets, and ensuring that essential services are accessible to all without discrimination.

In conclusion, the key message delivered is that real transformation in health and society requires collective effort.

Long-term investment, and genuine commitment to ensuring that every individual lives a healthy life with dignity and equal opportunity.