Together with my dear sisters, the First Ladies of Africa and Asia, we celebrate women every day through our “More Than a Mother” campaign—a testament to our commitment to empowering women in general, and infertile women in particular, who face infertility stigma, by providing access to information, education, change of mindset, and economic empowerment.
I am also very proud to share that out of the total 2,230 medical scholarships provided across 52 countries in 44 critical and underserved specialties, 1,046 scholarships, that is nearly 50%, have been granted to female medical graduates, as part of our Women Empowerment Mission. Merck Foundation “More Than a Mother” campaign, launched in 2016, is a powerful campaign that defines interventions to build quality and equitable Reproductive and Fertility Care Capacity, Break Infertility Stigma, and Raise Awareness about Infertility Prevention and Male Infertility.
I take great pride in the work we do at Merck Foundation to build and enhance fertility care capacity across Africa and Asia, supporting childless women and couples on their fertility journey. It brings me immense joy to share that, to date, we have provided over 680 scholarships in Embryology, Fertility, and Reproductive Care to young doctors from 39 countries, improving access to women’s health.
Many of our alumni are trained to be the first local experts in their countries, where they never used to have local embryologists or fertility specialists before our program, such as The Gambia, Burundi, Guinea, Chad, Niger, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Malawi, Congo, and more.
Together with African and Asian First Ladies, and other important partners, we are making history and reshaping the landscape of fertility and reproductive care across Africa and beyond.
We also support childless women by helping them start their own small businesses. It is all about giving every woman the respect and support she deserves to lead a fulfilling life, with or without a child.
According to the WHO, over 180 million couples in developing countries—one in every four—struggle with infertility. In many African cultures, infertility carries a deep social stigma, with women often bearing the sole blame for the inability to conceive. The societal pressure and judgment associated with childlessness frequently lead to isolation, discrimination, and ostracization, and, in many cases, result in divorce or even physical and psychological abuse.
As part of the “More Than a Mother” campaign, Merck Foundation has introduced several Community Awareness Programs. We have trained more than 3,500 media representatives from more than 35 countries to raise awareness and break the stigma around infertility and infertile and childless women.
Merck Foundation, in partnership with Africa’s and Asia’s First Ladies, has also launched the ‘More Than a Mother’ Children’s Storybook and Animation Film to emphasize strong family values of love and respect from a young age, which will reflect on eliminating the stigma of infertility and the resulting domestic violence in the future.
Watch the Merck Foundation Animation Films to Support Girl Education:
Ride into to Future:
Jackeline’s Rescue:
To address the critical issue of infertility stigma, along with various other social issues like Supporting Girl Education, Stopping GBV, Ending FGM & Child Marriage, and Women Empowerment, we proudly launch Merck Foundation ‘More Than a Mother’ Awards every year in partnership with African and Asian First Ladies. I also encourage the African media community, fashion designers, filmmakers, musicians, students, and emerging talents in these fields to participate by showcasing their creative work. Submissions can be sent to submit@merck-foundation.com.
It’s all about giving every woman the respect and the help she deserves to lead a fulfilling life, with or without a child.
I wish you all a Happy International Women’s Day to all the incredible women around the world, we honor their strength, resilience, and achievements
Kind regards,
Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej
CEO of Merck Foundation
President of “More Than a Mother” Campaign
Watch the Episodes of “Our Africa by Merck Foundation” TV program on Supporting Girl Education:
Episode 2:
Episode 11:
Episode 14:
Listen to Merck Foundation song about Supporting Girl Education here:
Watch, share & subscribe to the “Girl Can” song here, sung by two famous singers, Irene and Cwezi from Liberia and Ghana respectively:
Watch, share & subscribe the “Like Them” song here, sung by Kenneth, a famous singer from Uganda:
Watch, share & subscribe “Take me to School” song here, sung by Wezi, Afro-soul singer from Zambia, to support girls’ education:
Watch share & subscribe “Tu Podes Sim” Portuguese song, which means “Yes, You Can” in English by Blaze and Tamyris Moiane, singers from Mozambique in English here:
Watch, share & subscribe “Brighter day” song by Sean K and Cwesi Oteng from Namibia and Ghana respectively:
