GHANA—The Merck Foundation and the African First Ladies, have marked “World Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) Day,” 2023, by providing 490 scholarships to develop embryologists, fertility, and reproductive specialists in Africa.
Merck Foundation’s scholarships to expand ART care on the continent will go to recognized young doctors in 39 countries.
The Merck Foundation, established in 2017, is the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany, and has made significant progress in fertility care and treatment on the continent.
Considering that the organization has made history by training the first local Embryologists and Reproductive & Fertility Experts in many countries such as The Gambia, Liberia, Burundi, Guinea, Chad, Niger, Sierra Leone, Malawi, and Congo.
Moreover, supported training for the staff of First Public IVF Centers in Rwanda, Burundi, Ethiopia, Niger, Bangladesh, and Myanmar.
Together with African First Ladies, who are also the Ambassadors of the “Merck Foundation More Than a Mother” Campaign, by building and advancing fertility care capacity in Africa and Asia.
Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation and President of “More Than a Mother” emphasized, “We at Merck Foundation strongly believe in the critical role of Reproductive Care Specialists to empower infertile women through improving their access to information, change of mindset and quality & equitable fertility care across Africa & Asia.”
Merck Foundation’s “More Than a Mother” has been a strong movement for infertility care and treatment on the continent.
The powerful campaign defines interventions to build quality and equitable Reproductive and Fertility Care Capacity, Break Infertility Stigma, and Raise Awareness about Infertility Prevention and Male Infertility.
To date, the foundation has given out of a total 1580 scholarships, and more than 215 Scholarships for clinical and practical training to Fertility Specialists and Embryologists.
The foundation has also dished out 275 Scholarships for PG Diploma and master’s degrees in Sexual and Reproductive Medicine, Clinical Psychiatry, Women’s Health, Biotechnology of Human Assisted Reproduction & Embryology, Urology, and Laparoscopic Surgical skills to doctors from Africa.
Moreover, Merck Foundation has trained more than 2500 media representatives from more than 35 countries to raise community awareness and break the stigma around infertility and infertile and childless women.
Merck Foundation other project beyond the “More than a Mother” campaign
Merck Foundation has also been empowering childless and infertile women through their “Empowering Berna” initiative under their “More Than a Mother” movement.
The “Empowering Berna” initiative helps women who cannot be treated for infertility anymore by helping them to get trained to establish small businesses so that they can be independent and rebuild their lives.
Merck Foundation in partnership with African First Ladies has also launched David’s Story, a children’s storybook to emphasize strong family values of love and respect from a young age.
David’s story aims to eliminate the stigma of infertility and the resulting domestic violence in the future.
The storybook resources have been localized for each country and in three languages, English, French, and Portuguese to have a better connection with the young readers.
Additionally, the Merck Foundation’s ‘More Than a Mother’ Awards in partnership with African First Ladies, African Community of Media, Fashion, Film making, and Musicians, students, and potential talents.
The awards this year aims to create a culture shift and break the silence about one or more of the following topics: Breaking Infertility Stigma, Supporting Girl Education, Women Empowerment, Ending Child Marriage, Ending FGM, and/ or Stopping GBV at all levels.
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