Merck Foundation Chairman and CEO, together with Gabon First Lady during their visit to Gabon.
We officially launched our programs in partnership with H.E. Madam ZITA OLIGUI NGUEMA, First Lady of the Gabonese Republic, that we started in 2024 with the aim to transform patient care, build healthcare capacity, break the stigma of infertility, empower women, and support girl education in Gabon and the rest of Africa.
The program was chaired by the First Lady of Gabon, H.E. Madam ZITA OLIGUI NGUEMA, Chairman of Merck Foundation Board of Trustees, Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp, and myself. The program took place at the State House, Gabon.
It was a great honor to meet my dear sister, H.E. Madam ZITA OLIGUI NGUEMA, First Lady of Gabon, and to officially declare her as the Ambassador of the ‘Merck Foundation More Than a Mother’ campaign. I am very proud to share that through our partnership, we have provided 16 scholarships for our local healthcare providers who will be the future healthcare experts of Gabon, who have either graduated, are undergoing, or will be starting soon the Merck Foundation scholarships for training in critical and underserved specialties such as Fertility, Embryology, Oncology, Diabetes, and Hypertension.
We have provided more than 2,600 scholarships for healthcare providers from 52 countries in 44 critical and underserved medical specialties. Also, I am very happy to share that together with the First Lady of Gabon, we are also supporting girl education by providing annual scholarships to support the education of 40 high-performing yet underprivileged schoolgirls, until they graduate, so that they can reach their potential and achieve their dreams.
During the launch program, the beneficiaries of the Educating Linda program were also present, where a few of them shared inspiring testimonies on how the scholarships have changed their lives. I really believe that when girls are educated, their countries become more powerful, stronger, and prosperous.
In partnership with the First Lady of Gabon, we have launched seven children’s storybooks: “More Than a Mother”, “Educating Linda”, “Jackline’s Rescue”, “Not Who You Are”, “Ride into the Future”, “Sugar Free Jude”, and “Mark’s Pressure”. These books address critical social and health issues for young children, by signing a few copies of the storybooks by the First Lady of Gabon, Merck Foundation Chairman, and myself. Later, thousands of copies of these storybooks will be distributed to schoolchildren.
We have conducted two editions of our Online Health Media Training for Gabonese journalists in order to empower them to raise awareness about sensitive issues like breaking infertility stigma, supporting girl education, stopping GBV, ending child marriage and FGM, and raising awareness about diabetes and hypertension prevention and early detection. Together we also announced the Call for Applications for our 8 important annual Awards for Media, Musicians, Fashion Designers, Filmmakers, and new potential talents in these fields.
I encourage all young talents to apply for our Awards. You can apply here. Alternatively, entries van also be sent to us at submit@merck-foundation.co
Kind regards,
Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej (Ret.)
CEO of Merck Foundation
President of “More Than a Mother” Campaign
