Dubai: Merck Foundation, the philanthropic branch of Merck KGaA Germany, has officially launched the 7th Edition of the Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative (MFFLI) Summit in Dubai. The event, which took place on June 19th and 20th, was inaugurated by Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp, Chairman of the Merck Foundation Board of Trustees, alongside Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation and President of the MFFLI. Distinguished First Ladies from 14 African and Asian countries participated as Guests of Honor and Keynote Speakers.
According to African Press Organization, Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej highlighted the significance of welcoming the First Ladies of Africa and Asia, 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 designed to transform patient care and raise awareness on various social and health issues. Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp emphasized the foundation's commitment to enhancing health and well-being by building healthcare capacity and providing equitable healthcare solutions across Africa and Asia.
The First Ladies from 14 countries acted as Guests of Honor and Keynote Speakers at the summit. They include representatives from Angola, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Maldives, Mozambique, Nigeria, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, and Zimbabwe. These First Ladies also serve as Ambassadors for the Merck Foundation More Than a Mother initiative.
Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej announced that Merck Foundation has awarded over 2,500 scholarships to young doctors from 52 countries in 44 critical and underserved specialties. The initiative aims to empower infertile and childless women through education and mindset changes, marking World Infertility Awareness Month during the summit. Over 700 scholarships have been granted in fields like Fertility, Embryology, and Women's Health to improve access to care.
The summit commemorated the 8th Anniversary of Merck Foundation and 13 years of its development programs. A plenary session was held on the first day, featuring a panel discussion with the participating First Ladies and a high-level ministerial panel with African Ministers and global healthcare experts. The second day included sessions on Oncology, Fertility, and a community awareness session focused on media's role in driving cultural change on social and health issues.
The event, conducted in hybrid format, engaged over 6,000 participants from more than 70 countries. The summit was streamed live across Merck Foundation's and Dr. Rasha Kelej's social media platforms, reaching a global audience. Participating countries included Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Botswana, and many more, highlighting the summit's international scope and influence.
The Merck Foundation continues to address social and health issues, training over 3,700 media personnel from 35 countries, launching awards for media coverage, and creating songs and storybooks to raise awareness. With numerous social media channels and a significant following, the foundation remains dedicated to transforming lives across Africa and underserved communities.