Monrovia: Merck Foundation Chief Executive Officer (CEO) met with the First Lady of Liberia and 13 other First Ladies from Africa and Asia at the Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative Summit 2025. The summit focused on collaborative efforts to strengthen healthcare capacity across the regions.
According to African Press Organization, the 7th Edition of the Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative Summit was inaugurated by Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp, Chairman of Merck Foundation Board of Trustees, alongside Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation, and H.E. Mrs. Kartumu Yarta Boakai, First Lady of Liberia. The summit brought together First Ladies from Angola, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Maldives, Mozambique, Nigeria, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, and Zimbabwe to discuss joint programs.
Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej highlighted the partnership with Liberia, noting the provision of 50 scholarships for young Liberian doctors in various medical fields. These fields include Fertility, Embryology, Sexual and Reproductive Care, Oncology, Diabetes care, Acute Medicine, Pediatrics, and Dermatology. Some of these doctors have become the first specialists in Liberia’s public healthcare sector.
H.E. Mrs. Kartumu Yarta Boakai, who was appointed as the Ambassador of Merck Foundation More Than a Mother in 2024, expressed her pride in the achievements made through this partnership. She noted that the current Minister of Health in Liberia is a distinguished alumnus of the Merck Foundation.
On the second day of the summit, the Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative Committee meeting was held, where the First Ladies shared impact reports of Merck Foundation programs in their countries and discussed future strategies.
Merck Foundation has awarded 2,280 scholarships to doctors from 52 countries in 44 underserved medical specialties. Additionally, through the Educating Linda program, the foundation is supporting the education of 20 deserving girls.
In collaboration with the Office of the First Lady of Liberia, Merck Foundation conducted a Health Media Training program aiming to enhance local media capacity to raise awareness on critical social and health issues. These issues include ending gender-based violence, supporting girl education, and addressing health challenges like diabetes and hypertension.
Merck Foundation also announced a call for applications for eight awards in partnership with the First Lady of Liberia. These awards are for media, musicians, fashion designers, filmmakers, students, and new talents.
Furthermore, Merck Foundation and the First Lady of Liberia are launching children’s storybooks in the country to address important social and health issues. These include breaking infertility stigma and promoting awareness about diabetes and hypertension.
The summit was streamed live on various social media platforms, reaching a global audience and highlighting the collaborative efforts of the Merck Foundation with its partners in Africa and Asia.