Merck Foundation Chairman and CEO, along with 14 First Ladies during 7th Edition of Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative – MFFLI Summit
I am truly honored to conduct the 7th Edition of Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative – MFFLI Summit 2025, in presence of myself and African & Asian First Ladies, who are the Ambassadors of “Merck Foundation More Than a Mother”. Together, we are driving impactful change by empowering communities and addressing critical social and health issues across Africa and Asia.
During the Summit, Merck Foundation Health Media Training session was also conducted on Day 2, for African journalists, to emphasize on the important role the media plays to influence our society to create a cultural shift with the aim to Break Infertility Stigma, Support Girl Education, Stop Gender Based Violence, End Child Marriage, End FGM, and Empower Women at all levels. Moreover, to raise awareness about early detection & prevention of Diabetes & Hypertension.
Watch the Merck Foundation Health Media Training session here:
I strongly believe that media has the power to shape mindsets and create a culture shift. Journalists can drive real change through their daily reporting by raising awareness about critical social and health issues—such as breaking the stigma of infertility, promoting girls’ education, ending child marriage, stopping gender-based violence, and encouraging early detection and prevention of diabetes and hypertension.
Our Health Media Training empowered over 3,700 journalists from 35 African countries since 2017 to advocate for issues like infertility stigma, girls’ education, ending FGM, and diabetes prevention. We also launched eight Merck Foundation Awards for media, filmmakers, musicians, and designers, with submissions due by September 30 and October 30, 2025, to inspire creative storytelling.
I am confident that these awards encourage creative storytelling to raise awareness about critical social and health issues. Since 2017, we have been launching these awards together with my esteemed sisters, the African and Asian First Ladies, who are also the Ambassadors of the Merck Foundation More Than a Mother Campaign.
I am looking forward to all the entries from young talents for these important awards.
Kind Regards,
Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej
CEO of Merck Foundation
President of “More Than a Mother” Campaign
