DUBAI: Merck Foundation Chairman, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), and 14 First Ladies inaugurate the 7th Edition of Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative - MFFLI Summit in Dubai. Merck Foundation (www.Merck-Foundation.com), the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany, conducted the summit on June 19th and 20th 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 and President of the Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative. They were joined by the First Ladies of 14 African and Asian countries, who participated as Guests of Honor and Keynote Speakers.
According to African Press Organization, Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej highlighted the importance of the summit, emphasizing the collaborative exchange of experiences and discussions on transforming patient care and addressing critical social and health issues. Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp echoed these sentiments, stating Merck Foundation's commitment to enhancing healthcare capacity and providing equitable healthcare solutions across Africa, Asia, and beyond. He extended gratitude to the Ambassadors and partners for their support and collaboration.
The First Ladies, acting as Ambassadors of the Merck Foundation More Than a Mother campaign, participated actively in the summit. Their countries include Angola, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Maldives, Mozambique, Nigeria, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, and Zimbabwe.
Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej proudly announced that Merck Foundation has awarded over 2,500 scholarships to young doctors from 52 countries in 44 underserved specialties. She emphasized that many recipients are becoming the first specialists in their respective countries, contributing to the transformation of patient care across Africa and beyond. The summit also marked the World Infertility Awareness Month through the Merck Foundation More Than a Mother campaign, which aims to empower infertile and childless women.
The 7th MFFLI Summit coincided with the 8th Anniversary of Merck Foundation and 13 years of its development programs. The first day featured a plenary session and a high-level panel discussion with the First Ladies and African Ministers. The second day focused on medical and scientific sessions covering Oncology and Fertility Topics, along with a community awareness session, Merck Foundation Health Media Training, which underscored the media's role in addressing social and health issues.
The summit adopted a hybrid format, allowing over 6,000 participants from more than 70 countries to engage safely and effectively. Participating countries included Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, Cambodia, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, France, Gabon, Germany, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea-Conakry, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tanzania, Thailand, The Gambia, Togo, Tunisia, U.A.E, UK, Uganda, US, Vietnam, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and more.
The event was streamed live on Merck Foundation's and Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej's social media platforms, extending its reach to a global audience. This summit underscored Merck Foundation's ongoing efforts to address social and health issues in underserved communities through scholarships, media training, and cultural initiatives.