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.
Did he really said that while they still control regions in the south, and daily attacks in the muuuq-disho?Whatever drugs the president using is working great.
kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk!!!!
Al-shabaab are only a bunch of cowards who are using the inicint children and the vunrable women to do their dirty business. They are of course, the enemy of islam, the enemy of muslims, and the enemy of every living human being.
They funded by some opportunists who are either seeking a control, or to see somalia going down the hill. Somalia is on the rise, and next week people of somalia will be under 1 umbrella. Im not talking about the half habashis of course, im talking about those who are loyal to their people, to their diin and land.
Alshabaab will be defeated regardless, these guys imported alien Wahabi and wanted to force the Suufis into believing it. Suicide bombing was unheard of in Somalia before Shabaab's arrival. We will go back from the States and join the Somali national Army to defeat Shabaab. Unlike the undisplined Mooriyaan, we are hungry for peaceful Somalia and will not take a bribe. My suggestion to the president is to come back to Minneapolis, United States and draft 4000 Soldiers who are willing to defeat terrorism. The blue flag must fly from all over Somalia, Shabaab's black flag must come down along with all other who are claiming to bew a country.
Man there is nothing called wahaabism or wahabi, it was invented by the brits and they dubbed everyone who folowed sheikh mohammad bin cabdilwahab as wahabis.
There is no movement, a school, a teaching etc etc that is called wahaabism.
Sheikh Mohamad bin cabdilwahab renewed the thoughts of people, as most of people in arabia were sufies who were involved in so many ways with shirk and they have either avoiding the teachings of the profit, or to the most, they were ignorant people who don't really understand quraan or sunnah, and rather live with the culture system.
al-shabaab however, got nothing to do with salafiya, they are the al-khwarij that al-nabi peace be upon him told us about them.
You can search for specific hadithis about alkhawarij and see for yourself man
The guy, or the Mogadhisu horjooga ha aka president. Nominal president of Mogadishu is shooting from the hip to say he defeated terrorists. Who are the terrorists? In a place like Mog, who is the terrorists? Did he has an army to defeat them. His army are Africans who are there for their salaries. This announcement is premature as were many others he and his predecssor care takers said before. This same old same old.Viva the Republic of Somaliland
This is joke, when ever hassan culusow NGO says DEFEATED Al-shabab car Bomb will explode. so, the best thing is to keep his moryaan ,outh dhut before innocent peeple been killed.
correct——— we defeated, the best way is to keep his moryaan mouth shut before innocent people been killed.
Instead of talking nonesense and wishful thinking. First of all stand on your feet on instead on borrowed cructches in the form of black africans-Burrundi-Uganda,two barely existing states marred by chronic tirbal conflicts. Walaweyn are happy every hand shake they get fro foreigners, and they think these foreign lip service support will deliver them in the promised land. The mentality in Muuqdisho is how to collect the world hand outs. Every warlord, every yalao, every jilco, every tooxo wants all that handout. this is exactly what these people were fighting over for thirty years, and they will fightingover it forever. there is nothing else. they will never learn conflict resolution, governance, leadership and democracy. Viva the great republic of Somaliland
Forget about AlShabab, Wanlaeyn you are worst than them..You dream in the daytime. You areinfested with Budhcad badeed, Mooryaaan , warlords, terrorists. You can learn let alone master the art of governance, leadership and order. There is opportunists all are you mutating everyday into a new form and permutation. Stand in front of the mirror and look at your faces Alshabab are you, and not Aliens from Mars. face the facts other you will singing fictional blues for ever.
The fact matter is, Al shabaab was created, supported , funded , and abetted by the Tribal enclaves in the hopes they will get diplomatic recognition on the basis of the rest of Somalia being unstable. The dusty cities of Hargeisa adminstration should be designated as a major threat to the security of the whole region of East Africa. US Drones should soon start operating in Hargeisa to eliminate Al shabab and its supporters of Khat Addict Isaq tribes. And only then peace and stability will return to Somalia
The truth of the matters are, that the Alshabab Fighters are fighting the occupations of foreign
Govts inside the failed Somalia since 1991 without any strong Somalia Govts in place. The truth of
the matter are that the Alshabab fighters would not go away for as long as Somalia are under
occupations by foreign powers. The whole World may come together to fight the Alshabab
but the truth of the matters would logically credit that the Alshabab are homegrown freedom fighters
for their country under occupation just like the Irish IRA or any other IC freedom fighters for a good cause? Therefore homegrown freedom fighters are always difficult to eliminate that easy, you know.
Therefore, the SFG have huge daunting challenges to combat in my poor rational view.
Cheers.