Merck Foundation and Africa Reproductive Care society (ARCS) together conducted the Third Edition of “World Infertility Awareness Summit (WIAS) 2024”. The Summit was co-chaired by the Chairperson of Africa Reproductive Care Society (ARCS) together with Prof. Oladapo Ashiru OFR, President of Africa Reproductive Care Society (ARCS), The Nigerian Academy of Medicine Specialties and myself. It was attended byDr. Edem Hiadzi, Immediate past President of the Fertility Society Of Ghana (FERSOG); Prof. Justin E. MBOLOKO, Immediate Past President, Inter-African Fertility Research and Application Study Group (GIERAF) and Dr. Moustapha Thiam, Obstetrician Gynecologist IVF President, Senegal. This summit is conducted annually to mark the world fertility awareness month and raise awareness about infertility stigma, male infertility and infertility prevention in Africa and beyond.
We marked World Fertility Awareness Month with our Merck Foundation Alumni, fertility and reproductive care experts, presidents of fertility societies and members of Africa Reproductive Care Society (ARCS) and our media partners through 3rd Merck Foundation “World Infertility Awareness Summit”. The summit is part of our efforts towards raising awareness about infertility. especially male infertility, and to sensitizing communities to end the stigma associated with infertility and empower infertile women & couples through access to information, education, health and change of mindset. I am very proud to share that we, at Merck Foundation, have provided till today more than 574 scholarships of Embryology, Fertility and Sexual & Reproductive care to young doctors from 39 different countries in Africa and Asia. 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. Moreover, Merck Foundation has trained more than 3200 media representatives from more than 35 countries to raise community awareness and break the stigma around infertility and infertile and childless women.
During the program, Merck Foundation showcased our animation film “More Than a Mother”, adapted from the storybook, to emphasize strong family values of love and respect from a young age which will reflect on eliminating the stigma of infertility and the resulted domestic violence in the future. Together with African First Ladies, and other important partners, we are making history and reshaping the landscape of fertility & Reproductive care across Africa and beyond.
Watch “More Than a Mother” animation film here:
Merck Foundation also conducts MARS Awards to empower African young researchers & women researchers, advancing their research capacity and promote their contribution to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics).
Details of Merck Foundation Africa Research Summit (MARS) Awards 2024:
Merck Foundation Africa Research Summit – MARS 2024 will have scientific support from African Union Scientific-Technical and Research Commission (AU-STRC); African Reproductive Care Society (ARCS) and Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE).
Theme: The Role of Scientific Research in Women Health and Reproductive Care
Who can apply:
Abstracts are invited from final year PhD students, young investigators involved in research and Medical Doctors in Postgraduate Medical Fellowship program related to either of the following topics:
1) Women Health
2) Infertility and Reproductive Health
How to apply: Applications and abstracts can be submitted by clicking on:
https://merck-foundation.com/Merck-Foundation-Africa-Research-Summit-Application-Form
I am very proud that our joint Summit -WIAS 2024 was a great success. It was addressed by prominent speakers from prestigious fertility societies.
The objectives of the Summit were:
- To raise awareness about infertility especially male infertility.
- To highlight preventive measure in infertility in Africa and developing countries.
- To discuss the challenges and define solutions to improve access to quality and equitable Infertility, Sexual & Reproductive Care via building healthcare capacity and raising community awareness.
- Define interventions to break infertility stigma around women and couples.
Kind Regards,
Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej,
CEO of Merck Foundation,
President of “More Than a Mother” Campaign
Chairperson of Africa Reproductive Care Society (ARCS)