DUBAI: Merck Foundation Chairman, CEO, and 14 First Ladies inaugurate the 7th Edition of Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative - MFFLI Summit in Dubai. Merck Foundation (www.Merck-Foundation.com), the philanthropic branch of Merck KGaA Germany, organized the 7th Edition of the Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative - MFFLI Summit 2025 on June 19th and 20th in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The event was inaugurated by Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp, Chairman of the Merck Foundation Board of Trustees, and Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation and President of the Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative, alongside First Ladies from 14 African and Asian countries, who participated as Guests of Honor and Keynote Speakers.
According to African Press Organization, Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej emphasized the significance of welcoming the esteemed Guests of Honor and Keynote Speakers, primarily The First Ladies from Africa and Asia, who also act as Ambassadors for the More Than a Mother campaign. The summit served as a platform for exchanging experiences and engaging in discussions on the impact of the foundation's programs aimed at transforming patient care and addressing critical social and health issues.
Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp highlighted Merck Foundation's objectives of improving healthcare capacity and access to quality healthcare solutions in Africa, Asia, and beyond. He expressed gratitude towards the Ambassadors and partners for their support and collaboration in working towards a vision of a healthy and happy world.
The participating First Ladies, who serve as Ambassadors for the More Than a Mother campaign, represented countries such as Angola, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Maldives, Mozambique, Nigeria, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, and Zimbabwe. They contributed as Guests of Honor and Keynote Speakers during the summit.
Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej shared that Merck Foundation has awarded over 2500 scholarships to young doctors from 52 countries in 44 critical and underserved specialties. Many of these recipients have become the first specialists in their respective countries. She further mentioned that more than 700 scholarships focused on training in fields such as Fertility, Embryology, Sexual and Reproductive Medicine, and Women's Health, aiming to improve access to fertility care and women's health.
The summit also marked the 8th Anniversary of Merck Foundation and 13 years of its development programs initiated in 2012. On the first day, a Plenary Session and a high-level panel discussion featuring the First Ladies of Africa and Asia took place. Additionally, a ministerial panel discussion with African Ministers and healthcare experts was conducted.
On the second day, three parallel sessions were held, focusing on medical and scientific topics including Oncology and Fertility, as well as a community awareness session, Merck Foundation Health Media Training. This session highlighted the role of media in influencing communities and driving cultural change concerning social and health issues.
The hybrid-format conference enabled participation from over 6,000 audiences from more than 70 countries, allowing them to discuss strategies and solutions for health and social challenges.
The 7th Edition of the Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative was streamed live on Merck Foundation and Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej's social media handles, enabling wider access to the discussions and outcomes of the summit.