Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation during the shoot of ‘Our Africa’
Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany, together with African First Ladies, marks the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation 2024 as a part of the Merck Foundation “More Than a Mother” and “Educating Linda” program. Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) stands as a grave issue deeply ingrained in numerous cultures across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. It is important that we take immediate action and speak out against this longstanding and harmful practice. FGM deprives women and girls of their dignity, jeopardizes their health, inflicts unnecessary pain and suffering, and imposes lasting complications, including infertility, yes. Infertility that resulted from untreated infectious diseases which resulted from FGM practice. FGM causes other complications such as infections, stillborn babies, and, in some instances, even death. It is crucial to challenge and eradicate this damaging tradition.
Watch the Episode 6 of “Our Africa by Merck Foundation” TV program on Ending FGM here
Together with African First Ladies, we have contributed to the future of 425 girls by providing scholarships to continue their education and also providing essential school items, through our “Educating Linda” program in many African countries such as Burundi, Malawi, Ghana, The Gambia, Nigeria, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Niger and more.
Through ‘Our Africa’ TV program we have conveyed to the communities that FGM only harms girls and women physically and also psychologically, and that it has no health benefits. Rather, FGM can lead to severe medical complications in women including infertility, as infection due to FGM is one of the main causes of Infertility. FGM also increases the risk of HIV transmission and can cause severe complications during childbirth. We must understand that FGM is recognized internationally as a violation of the human rights of girls and women.
This practice needs to stop immediately.
Kind Regards,
Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej,
CEO of Merck Foundation,
Executive Producer & co-host of “Our Africa” TV Program by Merck Foundation
