Dubai: Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany, held the 7th Edition of the Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative (MFFLI) Summit on the 19th and 20th of June in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The event was inaugurated by Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp, Chairman of Merck Foundation Board of Trustees, and Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation. The summit featured the First Ladies of 14 African and Asian countries as Guests of Honor and Keynote Speakers.
According to African Press Organization, Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej emphasized the honor of welcoming the First Ladies, who also serve as Ambassadors of the "More Than a Mother" campaign. The summit provided a platform for exchanging experiences and discussing the impact of programs aimed at transforming patient care and raising awareness of various social and health issues.
Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg Haverkamp highlighted Merck Foundation's commitment to improving health and well-being by building healthcare capacity and providing access to quality healthcare solutions in Africa and Asia. He expressed gratitude to the Ambassadors and partners for their support in working towards a vision of a healthier world.
The First Ladies, serving as Ambassadors of the Merck Foundation More Than a Mother campaign, included H.E. Dr. Ana Dias Lourenço from Angola, H.E. Dr. Débora Katisa Carvalho from Cabo Verde, H.E. Madam Brigitte Touadera from Central African Republic, and others from countries such as Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Maldives, Mozambique, Nigeria, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, and Zimbabwe.
Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej also shared that Merck Foundation has awarded over 2,500 scholarships to young doctors from 52 countries in 44 medical specialties. The summit coincided with World Infertility Awareness Month and highlighted efforts to empower infertile and childless women through the "More Than a Mother" campaign.
The summit also celebrated the 8th Anniversary of Merck Foundation and 13 years of its development programs. The first day featured a plenary session with a high-level panel discussion including the First Ladies. A ministerial panel discussion with African Ministers and global healthcare experts was also held.
On the second day, parallel sessions were conducted, covering topics such as Oncology and Fertility, and a community awareness session known as Merck Foundation Health Media Training. This session focused on the media's role in influencing communities and driving cultural change on issues like infertility stigma, girls' education, gender-based violence, child marriage, female genital mutilation, and more.
The hybrid format of the conference allowed over 6,000 participants from more than 70 countries to engage in discussions safely and effectively. Participating countries included Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Botswana, Canada, Central African Republic, Egypt, France, Germany, India, Kenya, Liberia, Malaysia, Maldives, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, and Zimbabwe, among others.
The event was streamed live on Merck Foundation's and Dr. Rasha Kelej's social media platforms, reaching a global audience. The foundation has also been active in creating awareness about health and social issues through media training, awards, songs, storybooks, and TV programs.