I am proud to share the success of our high-level meeting with my dear sister, H.E. Mrs. SAJIDHA MOHAMED, The First Lady of the Republic of Maldives, and Ambassador of “Merck Foundation More Than a Mother”, alongside Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg Haverkamp, Chairman of Merck Foundation BOT, held at the Official Residence of the President in Malé. It was an honor to meet my dear sister H.E. Mrs. SAJIDHA MOHAMED, The First Lady of the Republic of Maldives, and officially appointing her to be the Ambassador of “Merck Foundation More Than a Mother”. During our meeting we discussed our joint programs and underscored our commitment towards building healthcare capacity and transforming patient care landscape by providing scholarships for local doctors. We also discussed about addressing critical social and health issues in the country including breaking the infertility stigma, stopping gender-based violence, women empowerment, and diabetes and hypertension awareness.
Our partnership with The First Lady of Maldives is already making a significant impact, as we have started providing scholarships for local doctors in critical specialties like Fertility and Embryology, with plans to expand to other underserved specialties. Through these efforts, we aim to enhance healthcare capacity and transform the patient care landscape in the Maldives. Additionally, we met with Hon. Mr. Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim, Minister of Health, to further align our scholarship programs with the country’s healthcare needs.
Merck Foundation, in partnership with The First Lady of Maldives, is also committed to addressing critical social and health issues through our Community Awareness Programs. These initiatives focus on breaking infertility stigma, stopping gender-based violence, promoting women empowerment, and raising awareness about diabetes and hypertension. To amplify these messages, we will soon conduct our Health Media Training for Maldivian journalists, emphasizing the vital role media plays in creating a cultural shift and being the voice of the voiceless.
I am thrilled to announce the launch of our 8 important Merck Foundation Awards for Maldivian Media, Musicians & Singers, Fashion Designers, Filmmakers, and students & new potential talents in these fields, in partnership with The First Lady of Maldives. These awards aim to raise awareness about Breaking Infertility Stigma, Women Empowerment, and promoting healthy lifestyles through diabetes and hypertension awareness. I invite the young talents from the Maldives to share their entries with us at submit@merck-foundation.com, with deadlines of 30th September 2025 for “More Than a Mother” awards and 30th October 2025 for “Diabetes & Hypertension” awards.
We will continue to work closely with The First Lady of Maldives to drive positive transformations in healthcare and social awareness, ensuring a healthier and more empowered future for the people of Maldives.
Kind Regards,
Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej,
CEO of Merck Foundation
President of “Merck Foundation More Than a Mother” campaign
