After the success of Merck Africa Luminary in Germany, Kenya and Cote d’Ivoire, Merck Foundation, a non-profit company and a subsidiary of Merck KGaA Germany, conducted the Fourth edition of their annual “
Merck Africa Asia Luminary” on the 24
th and 25
th of October 2017, in partnership with Egypt’s Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Africa Fertility Society and the International Federation of Fertility Societies- IFFS.
Merck Foundation Launch at 4th Edition of Merck Africa Asia Luminary - Egypt
From left to right: H.E. First Lady of the Republic of Chad Madame Hinda Deby Itno; H.E. First Lady of the Republic of Niger Madame Aissata Issoufou Mahamadou Prof. Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp, Chairman of the Executive Board of E. Merck KG; ; H.E. First Lady of the Republic of Guinea Madame Conde Djene; H.E. First Lady of Central African Republic H.E. Madame Brigitte Touadera; Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation; H.E. First Lady of the Republic of The Gambia, Madame Fatoumattah Bah-Barrow; and Hon. Margaret Mensah-Williams, the Chairperson of the National Council of the Republic of Namibia during the launch of Merck Foundation in Cairo, Egypt on October 24, 2017. Prof. Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp, Chairman of the Executive Board and Family Board of E.Merck KG emphasized: “Merck is a value driven company, and that is one of the reasons why Merck through its foundation is committed to support the social and economic development of Africa, Asia and developing countries by building healthcare capacity and improving access to innovative and equitable healthcare in the continent.” Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation emphasized: “Merck Foundation brings more than 450 healthcare providers, policy makers, academia and researchers from Africa, Asia and CIS countries to benefit from the valuable educational and social development sessions by top international experts in Diabetes, Fertility, Oncology, Cardiology, Women Health and Research, with the aim of improving disease management, early detection and prevention, build healthcare and research capacity and improve access to innovative and equitable healthcare solutions in developing countries.” “We are very proud to have five First Ladies to inaugurate the Luminary. These very influential women will also be “Merck More Than a Mother” champions to empower infertile women through access to information, health and change of mind-set in their respective countries and the rest of Africa,” Dr. Kelej added.
Merck Foundation-African First Ladies Panel at 4th Edition of Merck Africa Asia Luminary
Key African Ministers to participate in two High Level Panels: Two high level panels of Ministers of Health and Gender to discuss the challenges and solutions to improve access to fertility and cancer care will also take place. The first ministerial high level panel on “Merck more than a Mother’s role in defining interventions to break the stigma around infertility in Africa and Asia,” will have Hon. Susan Shabangu, Minister in the Presidency Responsible for Women, South Africa; Hon. Betty Amongi, Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Uganda; Hon. Idi Illassou Mainassara, Minister of Health of Niger; and Hon. Zuliatu Cooper, Minister of Health & Sanitation, Sierra Leone. Others in the panel will be Prof. Richard Kennedy, President of International Federation of Fertility Societies – IFFS; Prof. Joe Leigh Simpson, past president of IFFS, Prof. Chii-Ruey Tzeng, President of ASPIRE; Prof. Oladapo Ashiru, President of Africa Fertility Society and Dr. Rasha Kelej, Chief Executive Officer of Merck Foundation will chair the panel discussion.
Merck Foundation-Ministerial panel on Building Fertility Care & Breaking Stigma in Africa & Asia
The second ministerial panel on “The Role of Merck Foundation Together with Governments to improve access to equitable healthcare solutions in Africa and Asia”, will include Hon. Saffie Lowe Ceesay, Minister of Health, Gambia; Hon. Ngarmbatina Odimbeye Soukate, Minister of Health, Chad; Hon. Pierre Somse, Minister of Health, Central Africa Republic; Hon. Dr. Faustine Engelbert Ndugulile, Deputy Minister of Health, Tanzania; and Hon. Julieta Kavetuna, Deputy Minister of Health and Social Services of Namibia. Others in the panel include President of International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO), Prof. Chittaranjan Nalahari Purandare; Prof. Dileep Mhaisekar, Vice Chancellor Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS) India and Dr. Rasha Kelej, Chief Executive Officer, Merck Foundation will chair the panel. 
Panel on Role of Merck Foundation together with Govt.to improve access to healthcare in Africa
Healthcare Providers and Academia will also be engaged in an open dialogue to explore the educational gaps with the aim to inform the successful implementation of Merck Diabetes and Hypertension Capacity Advancement Program. In addition to witness the announcement of the winners of the ‘Merck Diabetes and Hypertension Awards’ from across Africa and Asia at the Award Ceremony Dinner.
Over 50 countries are participating including: Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Mozambique, Angola, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Rwanda, Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Ethiopia, Congo, Senegal, Cote d’Ivoire, Liberia, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Mali, Malawi, Morocco, Tunisia, Sudan, Gambia, Burkina Faso, Niger, Chad, Liberia, Burundi, Mali, Malawi, Equatorial Guinea, Russia, Uzbekistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, U.A.E, Tunisia, India, and Indonesia. Read more about the 2nd and 3rd edition of Merck Africa luminary in Kenya and Cote d’Ivoire respectively.Merck Africa Luminary in Kenya 2015https://www.merck-foundation.com/MF_ArticalDetail?id=a2tw0000000NDnKMerck Africa Luminary in Cote D’Ivoire 2016https://www.merck-foundation.com/MF_ArticalDetail?id=a2tw0000000NDt0