After the success of Merck Africa Luminary in Germany, Kenya and cote D’Ivoire, Merck Foundation, a non-profit company and a subsidiary of Merck KGaA Germany, to conduct the Fourth edition of their annual ‘Merck Africa Asia Luminary’ on the 24th and 25th of October 2018, in partnership with Egypt’s Ministry of High Education and Scientific Research, Africa Fertility Society and the International Federation of Fertility Societies- IFFS.
- Merck Africa Luminary 2016 in Cote D’Ivoire: http://apo.af/xpqHG4.
- Inauguration of Merck Africa Luminary 2015 in Kenya: http://apo.af/WFWaeb.
Prof. Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp, Chairman of the Executive Board and Family Board of E-Merck KG emphasized “Merck is a value driven company and that is one of the reasons why Merck through its foundation is committed to support the social and economic development of Africa, Asia and developing countries by building healthcare capacity and improving access to innovative and equitable healthcare in the continent.”
Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation emphasized “Merck Foundation will bring more than 450 healthcare providers, policy makers, academia and researchers from Africa, Asia and CIS countries to benefit from the valuable educational and social development sessions by top international experts in Diabetes, Fertility, Oncology, Cardiology, Women Health and Research, with the aim to improve disease management, early detection and prevention, build healthcare and research capacity and improve access to innovative and equitable healthcare solutions in developing countries.”
“We are very proud to have very influential women leader to inaugurate the Luminary such as: Vice President of Tanzania, H.E. Dr. Samia Hassan Suluhu, First Lady Republic of Guinea, H.E. Conde Djénè Kaba, First Lady of Gambia, H.E. Fatoumatta Bah-Barrow, First Lady of Niger, H.E. Aissata Issoufou Mahamadou, First Lady of Chad, H.E. Hinda Deby Itno and First Lady of Central African Republic, H.E. Brigitte Touadera. They will announce the start of “Merck more than a Mother” to empower infertile women through access to information, health and change of mind-set in their respective countries and the rest of Africa,” Dr Kelej added.
Key African Ministers to participate in two High Level Panels:
Two high level panels of Ministers of Health and Gender to discuss the challenges and solutions to improve access to fertility and cancer care will also take place.
The first ministerial high level panel on ‘Merck more than a Mother’s role in defining interventions to break the stigma around infertility in Africa and Asia,’ involved Hon. Zuliatu Cooper, Minister of Health & Sanitation, Sierra Leone; Hon. Julia Cassell, Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Liberia; Hon. Susan Shabangu, Minister for Women, South Africa; and Hon. Betty Amongi, Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Uganda and Dr Rasha Kelej , Chief Executive Officer of Merck Foundation to chair the panel discussion.
The second ministerial panel on “The Role of Merck Foundation Together with Governments to improve access to equitable healthcare solutions in Africa and Asia” included Hon. Chilatu Chilufya, Minister of Health Republic of Zambia; Hon. Julieta Kavetuna, Deputy Minister of Health and Social Services of Namibia; Hon. Saffie Lowe Ceesay, Minister of Health, Gambia; Hon. Idi Illassou Mainassara, Minister of Health of Niger; Hon. Ngarmbatina Odimbeye Soukate, Minister of Health, Chad; Hon. Jocelyne Fernande Djengbot, Minister of Health, Central African Republic; Hon. Abdourahmane Diallo, Minister of Health of Republic of Guinea. Others in the panel include President of International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO); Prof. Dr. Kailash Sharma, Director, Tata Memorial Centre, India; Prof. Dileep Mhaisekar, Vice Chancellor – Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS) India and Dr. Rasha Kelej, Chief Executive Officer, Merck Foundation to chair the panel.
Healthcare Providers and Academia will also be engaged in an open dialogue to explore the educational gaps with the aim to inform the successful implementation of Merck Diabetes and Hypertension Capacity Advancement Program. In addition to witness the announcement of the winners of the ‘Merck Diabetes and Hypertension Awards’ from across Africa and Asia at the Award Ceremony Dinner.
Countries participating include: Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Mozambique, Angola, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Rwanda, Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Ethiopia, Congo, Senegal, Cote d’Ivoire, Liberia, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Mali, Malawi, Morocco, Tunisia, Sudan, Gambia, Burkina Faso, Niger, Chad, Liberia, Burundi, Mali, Malawi, Equatorial Guinea, Russia, Uzbekistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, and India, Indonesia.
