Published 2 days ago
on March 10, 2021
Staff writer
As the world continues to celebrate the social, economic and political achievements of women this month, the Merck Foundation commemorated the International Women’s Day through it’s ‘More Than a Mother’ Campaign.
In cooperation with the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany together with 18 African First Ladies, Ministries of Health, Education, Communication, and gender, the campaign aims to empower infertile and childless women through access to information, education, health and change of mind-set though ‘Educating Linda’- a program which aims to empower girls through education.
Chief Executive Officer of Merck Foundation and president of Merck More Than a Mother –Dr Rasha Kalej shared her sentiments about International Women’s Day saying that it is time to enhance efforts towards advocating for the rights of women and girls.
“We at Merck Foundation celebrate Women’s Day every day by empowering women and girls through education, information, health, and change of mind-set as part of ‘More than a Mother’ campaign. I strongly believe that now is the time to stand for the rights of women and empower them. Happy International Women’s Day to all the women in the world and to the men who support and empower women,” said Dr Kalej.
“Happy Women’s Day to my lovely sisters and First Ladies of Africa. It is an honour for Merck Foundation to partner with First Ladies of more than 18 countries to lead and execute the initiatives in their respective countries as Merck More Than a Mother Ambassadors. With “More Than a Mother”, we have initiated a cultural shift to break infertility at all levels by raising awareness and supporting girls’ education. It’s all about giving every woman the respect and the help she deserves to live a fulfilling life, with or without a child.”
She said, she strongly believes that raising strong girls means empowering them for their future as strong women.
Through her foundation’s ‘Educating Linda program’, Merck Foundation supports young African girls who are unprivileged but brilliant to continue their education, so as to enable them to fulfil their dreams and to reach their full potential.
In many cultures in Africa, childless women still suffer discrimination, stigma, and ostracism. The inability to have a child or to become pregnant can result in women being greatly isolated, disinherited, or assaulted. Such issues surrounding childless women has resulted in divorces and physical, psychological abuse.
It is against such a background that Merck Foundation established a platform to provide specialty training for more than 180 African fertility specialists and embryologists, and more than 150 sexual and reproductive care specialists from 35 countries. The development was done with the aim of advancing women’s health and fertility care capacity in Africa and developing countries.
Merck Foundation has also trained over 1500 media representatives from 20 countries, to raise community awareness, creating a culture shift, and breaking the stigma around infertility and infertile and childless women. The foundation has also built advocacy in partnership with African First Ladies through their social media with more than 3M followers, launched Media, Fashion, and Film awards; created 20 local songs; children storybooks; and supported many childless women in starting their own small businesses through “Empowering Berna” program.
Through ‘Educate Linda’ program, Merck Foundation is supporting the education of some of the high performing girls by providing scholarships and grants that can cover school fees, school uniforms, and other essentials including notebooks, pens, and mathematical instruments.
Educating Linda program has contributed to the future of hundreds of girls, from countries such as: Ghana, Burundi, Malawi, Niger, and Liberia.
According to Dr. Kalej- Merck Foundation will continue to support young girls from the African continent.