Merck Foundation CEO and 12 First Ladies Launch 13th Africa Asia Luminary 2026 to Strengthen Healthcare Collaboration

Key Developments in Healthcare Initiatives

On June 18 and 19, 2026, the Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany, hosted the 13th Edition of the Africa Asia Luminary through an online videoconference. This significant event was inaugurated by Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp, Chairman of the Merck Foundation Board of Trustees, alongside Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of the Merck Foundation and Chairperson of the Africa Asia Luminary. The conference featured the participation of First Ladies from 12 African and Asian countries, who served as Guests of Honor and Keynote Speakers.

The First Ladies in attendance included:

• H.E. Dr. Ana Dias Lourenço, First Lady of Angola
• H.E. Mrs. Kaone Boko, First Lady of Botswana
• H.E. Dr. Débora Katisa Carvalho, First Lady of Cabo Verde
• H.E. Madam Brigitte Touadera, First Lady of the Central African Republic
• H.E. Madam Zita Oligui Nguema, First Lady of Gabon
• H.E. Mrs. Fatoumatta Bah-Barrow, First Lady of The Gambia
• H.E. Mrs. Rachel Ruto, First Lady of Kenya
• H.E. Mrs. Kartumu Yarta Boakai, First Lady of Liberia
• H.E. Madam Sajidha Mohamed, First Lady of Maldives
• H.E. Dr. Gueta Seleman Chapo, First Lady of Mozambique
• H.E. Senator Oluremi Tinubu, First Lady of Nigeria
• H.E. Mrs. Maria de Fatima Vila Nova, First Lady of São Tomé and Príncipe

Focus on Healthcare Capacity Building

Dr. Rasha Kelej emphasized the importance of the event, stating that it was a privilege to welcome distinguished Guests of Honor and Keynote Speakers, highlighting their roles as ambassadors of the “More Than a Mother” campaign. The discussions centered around the impact of various programs aimed at transforming patient care and raising awareness of critical social and health issues.

Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp expressed gratitude to the First Ladies, healthcare experts, policymakers, and media representatives for their support. He reaffirmed the Merck Foundation’s commitment to enhancing health and well-being by building healthcare capacity and ensuring equitable access to quality healthcare across Africa and Asia.

Scholarships and Educational Initiatives

During the conference, Dr. Kelej announced that the Merck Foundation has awarded over 2,600 scholarships to healthcare providers from 52 countries in 44 critical and underserved specialties. Many alumni have become the first specialists in their respective countries, contributing to the transformation of patient care across the regions.

Additionally, the conference coincided with World Infertility Awareness Month, observed annually in June. The “More Than a Mother” campaign aims to empower infertile and childless women by providing access to information, health resources, and education.

Dr. Kelej noted that more than 800 scholarships have been allocated to healthcare providers in fields such as Fertility, Embryology, Sexual and Reproductive Medicine, Clinical Psychiatry, Women’s Health, Urology, and Family Medicine. These initiatives are designed to strengthen fertility care services and improve access to women’s health across 42 countries.

Engagement and Participation

The inaugural session attracted over 800 participants, including healthcare providers, policymakers, and media from 57 countries. The event was live-streamed on social media, reaching over 220,000 viewers, thereby amplifying the impact and extending access to knowledge and dialogue across continents.

The second day of the conference featured parallel scientific sessions focusing on Oncology and Fertility topics, further enhancing the collaborative efforts in healthcare.

Merck Foundation’s Broader Impact

The Merck Foundation is committed to transforming the patient care landscape through various initiatives, including:

• Providing over 2,600 scholarships for healthcare providers from 52 countries in 44 critical medical specialties.
• Training over 4,000 media representatives from more than 42 countries to raise awareness about social and health issues.
• Launching eight different awards annually for media coverage, songs, films, and fashion that contribute to raising awareness.
• Producing around 30 songs addressing health and social issues in multiple languages.
• Publishing nine children’s storybooks in English, French, Portuguese, and Swahili.
• Creating six awareness animation films in five languages to combat infertility stigma and promote education for girls.

The foundation also supports a Pan-African TV program titled “Our Africa by Merck Foundation,” which addresses social and health issues through community engagement.

Conclusion

The Merck Foundation continues to make strides in enhancing healthcare access and education, particularly for women and children. Through its extensive scholarship programs and awareness campaigns, the foundation aims to create a lasting impact on healthcare systems in Africa and Asia.

For more information, visit the Merck Foundation.

Published on 2026-06-18 23:06:00 • By the Editorial Desk

Read all the latest developments and breaking updates in the Latest News section.