Two important occasions were marked; the 8th Anniversary of Merck Foundation and 13 years of Merck Foundation’s development programs that started in 2012
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, June 18, 2025/APO Group/ --
- Link to Live Stream of Inaugural Session of Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative – MFFLI Summit 2025: https://apo-opa.co/3G1Afxo
Merck Foundation (www.Merck-Foundation.com), the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany, conducted the 7th Edition of Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative - MFFLI Summit 2025 on 19th and 20th June in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It was inaugurated by Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp, Chairman of Merck Foundation Board of Trustees, and Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation and President of Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative along with The First Ladies of 14 African and Asian countries, who joined as the Guests of Honor and Keynote Speakers.

Merck Foundation Chairman, CEO, along with the First Ladies of Angola, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Gabonese Republic, The Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Maldives, Mozambique, Nigeria, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal and Zimbabwe during the 7th Edition of Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative (MFFLI) Summit in Dubai

Merck Foundation Chairman, CEO, along with 14 First Ladies from Africa and Asia during the 7th Edition of Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative - MFFLI Summit in Dubai (1)

Merck Foundation Chairman, CEO, along with 14 First Ladies from Africa and Asia during the 7th Edition of Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative - MFFLI Summit in Dubai (2)

Merck Foundation Chairman, CEO, along with 14 First Ladies from Africa and Asia during the 7th Edition of Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative - MFFLI Summit in Dubai (3)

Merck Foundation Chairman, CEO, along with 14 First Ladies from Africa and Asia during the 7th Edition of Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative - MFFLI Summit in Dubai (4)
Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation and President of “Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative” emphasized, “It is my great honor to welcome our esteemed Guests of Honor and Keynote Speakers, The First Ladies of Africa and Asia, and Ambassadors of our ‘More Than a Mother’ campaign to the 7th Edition of the Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative – MFFLI Summit.
Through this important platform, we have collectively exchanged valuable experiences and engaged in meaningful discussions on the impact of our programs, which are aimed at transforming patient care and raising awareness of a wide range of critical social and health issues.”
Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg Haverkamp, Chairman of Merck Foundation Board of Trustees added, “At Merck Foundation, our goal is improving overall health and well-being by building healthcare capacity and by providing access to quality & equitable healthcare solutions in the Africa, Asia and beyond. I would like to sincerely thank our Ambassadors and partners. Together, with your unwavering support and collaboration, we will continue to work towards our vision of a world where everyone can lead a healthy and happy life.”
The First Ladies of 14 countries, who are also the Ambassadors of “Merck Foundation More Than a Mother”, joined as Guests of Honor and Keynote Speakers. They are:
- H.E. Dr. ANA DIAS LOURENÇO, The First Lady of the Republic of Angola
- H.E. Dr. DÉBORA KATISA CARVALHO, The First Lady of the Republic of Cabo Verde
- H.E. Madam BRIGITTE TOUADERA, The First Lady of the Central African Republic
- H.E. Madam ZITA OLIGUI NGUEMA, The First Lady of the Gabonese Republic
- H.E. Mrs. FATOUMATTA BAH-BARROW, The First Lady of the Republic of The Gambia
- H.E. Mrs. LORDINA DRAMANI MAHAMA, The First Lady of the Republic of Ghana
- H.E. Mrs. RACHEL RUTO E.G.H., The First Lady of the Republic of Kenya
- H.E. Mrs. KARTUMU YARTA BOAKAI, The First Lady of the Republic of Liberia
- H.E. Mrs. SAJIDHA MOHAMED, The First Lady of the Republic of Maldives
- H.E. Dr. GUETA SELEMANE CHAPO, The First Lady of the Republic of Mozambique
- H.E. Senator OLUREMI TINUBU, CON, The First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
- H.E. Mrs. MARIA DE FATIMA VILA NOVA, The First Lady of the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe
- H.E. Madam MARIE KHONE FAYE, The First Lady of the Republic of Senegal
- H.E. Amai Dr. AUXILLIA MNANGAGWA, The First Lady of the Republic of Zimbabwe
Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej stated, “I am proud to share that Merck Foundation has provided more than 2280 scholarships for young doctors from 52 countries in 44 critical and underserved specialties. Many of our Merck Foundation Alumni are becoming the first specialists in their countries. Together with our Ambassadors and Partners, we are making history and transforming the patient care landscape across Africa and beyond. Many of them are becoming the first specialists in their countries.”
“During our Conference, we also marked together the World Infertility Awareness Month, observed in June, through our signature campaign “Merck Foundation More Than a Mother”, which aims to empower infertile and childless women by providing access to information, education, and change of mindset. I am happy to share that out of the total 2280 scholarships, more than 700 scholarships have been provided for training in Fertility, Embryology, Sexual and Reproductive Medicine, Clinical Psychiatry, Women's Health, Urology, Laparoscopic Surgical Skills, and Family Medicine, to improve access to fertility care and women’s health”, she further added.
During the 7th Edition of Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative -MFFLI Summit, two important occasions were marked; the 8th Anniversary of Merck Foundation and 13 years of Merck Foundation’s development programs that started in 2012.
On the first day, the Plenary Session of the Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative -MFFLI Summit took place, featuring a high-level panel discussion with the participating First Ladies of Africa and Asia. Moreover, a high-level ministerial panel discussion was held with African Ministers and top healthcare experts from across the globe.
The Day 2 of the conference will have three key parallel session will be held- Two medical and scientific sessions covering Oncology and Fertility Topics, and a community awareness session, Merck Foundation Health Media Training. This session will emphasize the critical role of the media in influencing communities and driving cultural change, with regards to a wide range of social and health issues like Breaking Infertility Stigma, Supporting Girls' Education, Stopping GBV, Ending Child Marriage & FGM, Empowering Women, Diabetes and Hypertension Awareness.
The conference is being conducted in a hybrid format, enabling over 6,000 audiences from more than 70 countries to benefit, meet and discuss strategies and solutions for the health and social challenges in their countries safely and effectively.
Countries participating in the 7th Edition of Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative:
Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Central Africa Republic, Cambodia, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, France, Gabon, Germany, Ghana, Guinea – Bissau, Guinea – Conakry, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tanzania, Thailand, The Gambia, Togo, Tunisia, U.A.E, UK, Uganda, US, Vietnam, Zambia, Zimbabwe and more.
The 7th Edition of Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative is streamed live on the social media handles of Merck Foundation and Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation:
@ Merck Foundation: Facebook (https://apo-opa.co/4edCwCi), X (https://apo-opa.co/4n8k2qI), Instagram (https://apo-opa.co/3G4ZQ8w), and YouTube (https://apo-opa.co/4kQbVOf).
@ Rasha Kelej: Facebook (https://apo-opa.co/3ZBhIi7), X (https://apo-opa.co/3FT5D13), Instagram (https://apo-opa.co/3HNpOOr), and YouTube (https://apo-opa.co/3ZF3Xiq).
Link to the Facebook live stream of Inaugural Session of Merck Foundation First Ladies High Level Panel: https://apo-opa.co/3G1Afxo
Merck Foundation is transforming the Patient care landscape and making history together with their partners in Africa, Asia, and beyond, through:
• 2280+ Scholarships provided by Merck Foundation for doctors from 52 Countries in more than 44 critical and underserved medical specialties.
Merck Foundation is also creating a culture shift and breaking the silence about a wide range of social and health issues in Africa and underserved communities through:
• 3700+ Media Persons from more than 35 countries trained to better raise awareness about different social and health issues
• 8 Different Awards launched annually for best media coverage, fashion designers, films, and songs
• Around 30 songs to address health and social issues, by local singers across Africa
• 8 Children’s Storybooks in three languages - English, French, and Portuguese
• 7 Awareness Animation films in five languages - English, French, Portuguese, Spanish and Swahili to raise awareness about prevention and early detection of Diabetes & Hypertension and supporting girl education.
• Pan African TV Program "Our Africa by Merck Foundation” addressing Social and Health Issues in Africa through “Fashion and ART with Purpose” Community
• 950+ Scholarships provided to high performing but under-privileged African schoolgirls to empower them to complete their studies
• 15 Social Media Channels with more than 8 Million Followers.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Merck Foundation.The Merck Foundation is dedicated to improving social and health outcomes for communities in need. While it collaborates with various partners, including governments to achieve its humanitarian goals, the foundation remains strictly neutral in political matters. It does not engage in or support any political activities, elections, or regimes, focusing solely on its mission to elevate humanity and enhance well-being while maintaining a strict non-political stance in all of its endeavors.
mashaallah excellent sing we're on our way recovering the nightmare this nation has been on let's keep going and not look back that's the only option for us for the first time I feel good about the direction this nation is heading.
This is good news and like always everyone can't be winners on the first round but we have to strive for a goal in which the whole society becomes winners in various rounds and stages otherwise things will just go back to the same.
I know not everyone is a winner baby…but that's okay. We have to look at the overall picture. One winner takes two runners up with him and it continues until the whole society is at peace with it self. No doubt it has long way to go but what Mogadishu achieved only in months is remarkable and up is the only way from here.
This is a good start for a city that knew nothing but warlords and guns for 21 years. I definitely want a water front block in Mogadishu. Our current home is in Karaan, it's not far from the beach but it is time to upgrade and up size.
Where is this area they currently building? Lido?
Nevertheless Mogadishu is a prime location, the property of all properties…
Abgaal city where everyone else is a refugee!
16 Districts with 15 controlled by Abgaal and 1 by reer xamar. There is no place for anyone else, Abgaal will not allow this city to fall back into the hands of Darood who owned 75% of that city!
Unless Abgaal give back stolen properties then it will never become the Capital it once was. 1-Clan city will at best remain a shanty town with 2million refugees.
What a fool person,mogadishu live population over 2.5 million.so,you Think everyone is Abgaal.i wonder how your little brain workers you need MRI scan.
let alone Darood son do you know how much Isaak actually own and live in mogadishu ?!
We xamaar is surrounded by hawiye but thats cool son mogadishu is and will always be cosmopolitan !
I must reclaim my family house in hawl' !
Buuxiye thinks the Somali capital is like the villages in the north where every village is settled by certain clan. You can't blame him, he grew up in a village surrounded by like minded people. They eat each others over clans.
I will continue to expose them and tell nothing but the truth.
Mogadishu has more than 50,000 Isaaq population forget Daroods, Hawiye, Rahaweins, other Dir, Bantus, reer Hamar, Barawanis, etc.
Not everything is like your Garadaag village dude. First step out and you will see a new world.
Meanwhile, keep begging sheikh Isaxaaq grave to bring you recognition, burn more foox and cuud.
lool Buuxiye last I checked Mogadishu was the capital of Somalia, mahaa isbadaley, Caadi iska dig.
What a liar.
15 districts are not controlled by Abgaal.
The 5 "H" Districts are majority Habar Gidir: Hamar Weyne, Hamar Jab Jab, Hodan, Heliwaa, Howlwadaag
The district of Dayniile is majority Murusade.
Abgaal are only majority in Karaan, Medina, Abdiaziz, Shangaani and Shibis district.
The other 5 districts are mixed with everyone to the point where you can't determine who are the majority.
Xamar is the most diverse clan city in Somalia. Rahanweyne, Bantu, Dir, Hawiye and Madhiban/Tumaal are the largest in Xamar.
good news! if there is peace anywhere, there is business and economy growth.
Most of those IDP's are farmers that not only failed their harvest but had to also deal with SNA and Shabaab on top of that fighting on their lands. Once security is back they will hopefully go back to cultivated their lands with some investment from the government in infrastructure/seeds/tools to feed Somalia once again Insha'Allah.
Fool me once Shame on YOU, Fool me twice shame on ME.
NON Hawiye were chased once out of Moqadishu and they are still waiting for their REVENGE after Abdullahi Yusuf allowed Ethiopians into Moqadishu.
CHASE-DAROOD to Dadaab Part-II… coming soon
I was wondering where in hell is Kaboon?
Well i think i found him !
Damn the somali women accent is so typical of somali :p
I've seen Mogadishu in videos and pictures and I have to say Mogadihsu is in an ideal place for a capital, near the beach. It is a place where tourist are likely to flood in, very beautiful. It's a shame for it to be in a state of destruction for more than two decades.
Too bad we have put all our eggs there thou in 1960. I Know all my uncles, especially the ones who graduated from British universities all invested much in Mogadishu, wonder if any of our properties and lands are still there or maybe they have been turned into a military ground.
Mogadishu is undoubtedly can be a beautiful city but it's residents don't have the courage of utilizing it's potentials..
Are you blaming the innocent residents? or the individuals that misused power to spread Nepotism (such as Siad barre's regime and Somaliland conspirators)?… Blaming innocent civilians is something that is very hard to accept.
Mogadishu almuqadis (place of worship in Arabic ), Mogadiscio(Vetican Worship in Latin),
good news.
Cheers.
Mogadishu is a Persian name and the city was founded by the Persians, it means mouth of the shark, since its right on the beach. Arabs arrived in Mogadishu in the 9th century while the Italians came yesterday, the Persians predate 2nd century while the Greeks even traded with Mogadishu about that era.
By the time of the Moroccan traveller Ibn Battuta's appearance on the Somali coast in 1331, the city was at the zenith of its prosperity. He described Mogadishu as "an exceedingly large city" with many rich merchants, which was famous for its high quality fabric that it exported to Egypt, among other places.[17][18] He added that the city was ruled by a Somali Sultan originally from Berbera in northern Somalia who spoke both Somali (referred to by Battuta as Mogadishan, the Benadir dialect of Somali) and Arabic with equal fluency.
Mogadishu has undergone more property boom in 8 months than the entire north did in 21 years, that is a fact. The highest property was recently purchased for $20m in Mogadishu while in Hargeisa the highest property costs mere $90,000 (city center right next to City center tower and Bubba building between ex-reer-Ugaadh building (now under Daryeel construction)).
If you have connections it can be more than 50% less than that in fact my uncle just paid $20k right next to Goolis restaurant opposite Caraale (hilib geel restaurant).
No comparison between a village with no infrastructure/town planning to nation's capital, beach front, ideal weather, ex Italian experimentation (Mussolini's so called modernism (read Modernism and Fascism. The Sense of a Beginning under Mussolini and Hitler))….where he took the best Italian designers to Eritrea (Asmara) and Mogadishu.
well at least we did not kill own peoples , thats something the south has to live with , own people somalis how will perseave other tribes if they kill own people . the killings made us more somali , with more hounor and ihsan
have always persued a new capital for somalia in the hafun pennsular with a trible cap at 400,000 of each trible with security in the pennisular being excellent to maintain , its a vibale and optimistic approch , that signals a new change in somali democrate allance
there will alsways be conflict in moqadisho because it is to far south from and has a iranian name,
so i think that moving the capital to the hafun which has history with the azd trible of oman and yamin,
would be a good place to start and going and writing in the somali arabic script again , whats this roman aplhabeta thing , said barre is not a somali , as he killed somalis , he killed the somali inside him , do arabs like iranians nope so new name new city in the hafun is best with new intentions , eg
bismillah , this new city on the hafun pennsular opened for all tribles somali for trade