Merck Foundation marks World Health Day

Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany marks “World Health Day” 2025 in partnership with Africa’s First Ladies who are also the Ambassadors of Merck Foundation “More Than a Mother” Campaign, with a strong reaffirmation of its commitment to improving and revolutionizing healthcare access across Africa, Asia and beyond through their Scholarships and Capacity Building Program.

Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation shared,

“ For over last 13 years, our efforts at Merck Foundation have been to ensure equitable access to healthcare through education, training and awareness initiatives that not only helps transform the patientcare landscape in Africa and Asia but also empower communities and medical professionals.

I am proud to share that together with our Ambassadors, the First Ladies of Africa, we mark World Health Day every single day of the year by building healthcare capacity and transforming patient care landscape. We achieve this by providing over 2250 scholarships for young doctors from 52 countries in Africa, Asia, and beyond, in more than 44 critical and underserved medical specialties such as Oncology, Diabetes, Preventative Cardiovascular Medicine, Endocrinology, Sexual and Reproductive Medicine, Acute Medicine, Respiratory Medicine, Embryology & Fertility specialty, Gastroenterology, Dermatology, Psychiatry, Emergency and Resuscitation Medicine, Critical Care, Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Neonatal Medicine, Advanced Surgical Practice, Pain Management, General Surgery, Clinical Microbiology and infectious diseases, Internal Medicine, Trauma & Orthopedics, Neurosurgery, Neurology, Cardiology, Stroke Medicine, Care of the Older Person, Family Medicine, Pediatrics and Child Health, Obesity & Weight Management, Women’s Health and many more.”

As per a WHO, African region has a ratio of only 1.55 health workers including physicians, nurses and midwives per 1000 people*. This is below the WHO threshold density of 4.45 health workers per 1000 people needed to deliver essential health services and achieve universal health coverage. Therefore, the Merck Foundation scholarships are highly significant, as they provide doctors with specialized training, helping to bridge healthcare gaps and improve patient care in underserved communities.

Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej emphasized,

“Before the launch of Merck Foundation programs in 2012, many countries—including The Gambia, Liberia, Sierra Leone, the Central African Republic, Guinea, Burundi, Niger, Chad, Ethiopia, Namibia, Myanmar, and Bangladesh—had either no or very few specialists in critical fields such as Oncology, Fertility and Reproductive Care, Diabetology, Respiratory Medicine, and Intensive Care.

I am proud to share that many of our alumni have become, or are on their way to becoming, the first specialists in their respective countries. We are building a lasting legacy in Africa.”

Merck Foundation works closely with their Ambassadors, the African First Ladies and local partners such as Ministries of Health, Education, Information & Communication, Gender, Academia, Research Institutions, Media and Art in building healthcare capacity and addressing health, social & economic challenges in developing countries and under-served communities.

Dr. Kelej shared,

“This year’s theme, ‘Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures,’ aligns perfectly with our initiatives to educate young minds on the importance of a healthy lifestyle, as well as diabetes and hypertension awareness. Together with First Ladies of Africa, we have launched two storybooks on these health topics and adapted them into engaging and inspiring animated films”.