Merck Foundation marks major healthcare milestone at 13th Africa Asia Luminary

DOREEN CHILUMBU The Merck Foundation has celebrated what it describes as a significant milestone in advancing healthcare access and medical capacity across Africa and Asia, highlighting years of investment in healthcare training, education, and social development initiatives. Speaking during the opening of the 13th Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary 2026, Chief Executive Officer and President of the Merck Foundation, Dr. Rasha Kelej, praised African and Asian First Ladies for their continued support in transforming healthcare systems and improving access to specialist medical services in underserved communities. Addressing participants during the virtual conference, Dr. Kelej said the Foundation's achievements were the result of strong partnerships built over the years. "Today, we achieved a lot with you," she said, thanking the First Ladies for their commitment to improving healthcare outcomes in their respective countries. Among the Foundation's notable accomplishments is the provision of more than 2,800 scholarships to healthcare professionals from 52 countries in 42 critical and underserved medical specialties. The scholarships support postgraduate training in areas such as oncology, cardiology, diabetes management, respiratory medicine, endocrinology, and embryology through partnerships with leading universities in the United Kingdom and other institutions worldwide. The annual Africa Asia Luminary conference serves as a platform that brings together healthcare providers, policymakers, researchers, development partners, and First Ladies to discuss strategies for strengthening healthcare systems and addressing pressing public health challenges. Dr. Kelej noted that global health emergencies such as COVID-19, Ebola outbreaks, and other emerging health threats have reinforced the need for strong healthcare systems and adequately trained medical professionals. She reaffirmed the Foundation's commitment to expanding partnerships that enhance healthcare capacity and improve access to quality medical care across developing countries. A key partner in the Foundation's healthcare capacity-building efforts is India's Tata Memorial Centre, one of the world's leading cancer treatment and research institutions. Through the Merck Cancer Access Program, the partnership has helped train African doctors in oncology, helping to address the shortage of cancer specialists across the continent. Director of Tata Memorial Centre, Dr. Sudeep Gupta, said the collaboration has trained more than 140 healthcare professionals from 21 African countries over the past 14 years. "What makes our relationship unique is the fact that the impact extends far beyond the duration of training," Dr. Gupta said, noting that beneficiaries return home equipped with skills that strengthen national healthcare systems and improve cancer care services. The conference also commemorated the ninth anniversary of the Merck Foundation's development programmes. In a statement, Chairman of the Merck Foundation Board of Trustees, Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp, said the achievements represented much more than statistics. "These milestones are not merely numbers. They represent years of dedication, strong partnerships, and meaningful impact in transforming the lives of millions across Africa and Asia," he said. Prof. Stangenberg-Haverkamp emphasized that the Foundation's vision remains focused on ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to live a healthy and fulfilling life. Beyond healthcare, the Foundation has also championed social development initiatives, including its "More Than a Mother" campaign, which seeks to break the stigma surrounding infertility, empower women, and promote girls' education. Through the Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative, spouses of Heads of State serve as ambassadors for these programmes while helping identify deserving healthcare professionals for scholarship opportunities. This year's Luminary conference was conducted entirely virtually following public health concerns linked to an Ebola outbreak reported in parts of East Africa. Organizers said the decision was taken as a precautionary measure and in line with recommendations from health authorities and the World Health Organization. The virtual format marks only the second time the conference has not been held in person, the first being during the COVID-19 pandemic between 2020 and 2023. The event attracted participation from First Ladies representing Angola, Botswana, Cabo Verde, the Central African Republic, Gabon, The Gambia, Kenya, Liberia, Maldives, Mozambique, Nigeria, and São Tomé and Príncipe. As the Merck Foundation celebrates nearly a decade of development programmes and thirteen years of the Africa Asia Luminary, the organisation says it remains committed to expanding healthcare access, strengthening specialist medical training, and supporting vulnerable communities across Africa and Asia.

From liberation lifeline to logistics bridge

•Nakonde anchors SADC integration drive

DOREEN NAWA Lusaka NAKONDE’S story begins not with congestion, but with survival. In the 1970s and 1980s, when apartheid South Africa and white minority-ruled Rhodesia sealed off trade routes, Zambia – a newly independent, landlocked nation – faced economic isolation. The answer came through regional solidarity. President Kenneth Kaunda turned to Tanzania’s Julius Nyerere and, with support from China, forged alternative lifelines: the TAZARA railway, the TAZAMA oil pipeline, and the Great North Road linking Lusaka to the port of Dar es Salaam. At the heart of this network was Nakonde, a town bordering Tanzania. Then a frontier outpost, the Nakonde–Tunduma crossing became more than a border. It was a corridor of resistance, a route through which fuel, goods and hope flowed into Zambia and the wider southern African region. It symbolised African unity at a time when the region was politically divided. Decades later, that same crossing would come to represent a different challenge. From lifeline to bottleneck As regional economies expanded after independence and apartheid ended, Nakonde’s importance only grew. It became the main gateway linking Tanzania’s coast to Zambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi and beyond. But infrastructure and systems did not keep pace. For years, the border was synonymous with delay. Trucks queued for kilometres – sometimes stretching for several kilometres – waiting days, even up to a week, to clear. Traders slept on pavements guarding their goods. Passengers braced for uncertainty. Clearing cargo meant navigating separate systems on each side of the border. Documentation was duplicated. Processes were manual. Coordination was minimal. “Sometimes we could spend two or three days just waiting,” recalls cross-border trader Miriam Phiri. “By the time you crossed, you had already lost money.” The Nakonde–Tunduma crossing had become a chokepoint – slowing trade, raising costs and exposing the gap between regional ambition and reality. A turning point: The one-stop border post Today that narrative is shifting. The upgraded one-stop border post (OSBP) at Nakonde represents a deliberate move by Zambia and Tanzania to transform borders from barriers into bridges.

Under the OSBP model, officials from both countries operate in a single facility, conducting joint inspections and processing travellers and cargo once – rather than twice. Commissioning the new Nakonde OSBP recently, President Hakainde Hichilema described the facility as central to economic transformation, noting that Nakonde is “not just a border – but a strategic link to regional and global markets”. “This is about improving the lives of our people and strengthening regional integration,” President Hichilema added. Tanzania’s Works and Transport Minister Makame Mbarawa emphasised cooperation, saying the project reflects a shared commitment to improving trade, tourism and mobility. The impact is already visible. Ministry of Transport data indicates that about 800 trucks now cross daily, with more than six million metric tons of cargo moving through annually. Between 2,000 and 3,500 people pass through the border each day. Most importantly, clearance times have dropped significantly – transforming Nakonde from a delay point into a flow point. Policy meets practice Nakonde’s transformation is not accidental. It is the result of decades of regional policy frameworks under the Southern African Development Community (SADC) now taking shape on the ground. Key instruments such as the SADC Protocol on Trade, the Protocol on Transport, Communications and Meteorology, the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP 2020–2030), and the SADC Industrialisation Strategy (2015–2063) have long called for seamless borders and efficient corridors. The OSBP model is a practical expression of these ambitions – bringing coordination, harmonisation and efficiency to one of the region’s most critical crossings. A regional artery Nakonde is no longer just a national border – it is a regional connector. Situated along the Dar es Salaam Corridor, it links Zambia’s production centre, the Copperbelt, and neighbouring countries to global markets via Tanzania’s port. An estimated 65 percent of cargo passing through Nakonde is in transit to other countries, underlining its strategic importance as a trade artery for the wider region. Without it, supply chains across southern and Central Africa would falter. Undoubtedly, lives have been transformed at the frontier. For those who depend on the border, the change is tangible. Truck driver Jackson Mwansa says predictability has improved. “Before, you never knew how long you would stay. Now trips are more organised.” Tanzanian trader Abdul Mussa highlights efficiency. “Officers from both sides work together. It is faster and clearer.” For student Ruth Mwape, the difference is also about dignity. “The environment is better, safer and easier to navigate. It feels like a modern border.” Beyond trade: Unlocking movement

The improved border is also opening new opportunities beyond commerce. Tourists can now move more easily between Zambia’s national parks and Tanzania’s coastal attractions. Regional travel circuits – once constrained by delays – are becoming more viable. Nakonde itself is evolving, with prospects for expanded logistics services and future transport links positioning it as a growing hub in the regional network. From past to promise Nakonde’s journey mirrors that of southern Africa itself. From a liberation lifeline in a divided region, to a congested bottleneck in a growing economy, and now to a modern trade gateway anchored in cooperation. Where trucks once idled for days, goods and people now move with purpose. And in that movement lies something bigger: the realisation of a regional vision – where borders no longer divide, but connect. PUBLISHED IN THE ZAMBIA DAILY MAIL ON APRIL 2, 2026.

Ouagadougou to host 2nd International Forum on Leadership and Innovation in Agriculture

By DOREEN NAWA

Ouagadougou will host the second edition of the International Forum on Leadership and Innovation in Agriculture from May 8 to 10, 2026, bringing together key stakeholders from across Africa to discuss sustainable agricultural transformation. The forum, which will take place at the SIAO Site, follows a successful inaugural edition and is expected to attract policymakers, agricultural experts, financial institutions, startups, investors, and students. This year’s forum will be held under the theme “Food Sovereignty and Climate Resilience in Africa: What Role for Agricultural Finance?” Participants will explore how financing can support Africa’s efforts to strengthen food systems while addressing climate challenges affecting agricultural production.

Organisers say the forum aims to provide a strategic dialogue platform focusing on the Agriculture–Environment–Water–Energy–Mining nexus, highlighting the interconnected nature of these sectors in achieving sustainable development. The event is also expected to promote leadership and innovation as key drivers for transforming Africa’s agriculture sector and creating employment opportunities for young people and women. The programme will feature high-level panel discussions, business-to-business (B2B) meetings, an exhibition area, leadership and innovation awards, and solidarity initiatives designed to encourage collaboration across agricultural value chains. Stakeholders from agriculture, environment, energy, and mining sectors—including producers, processors, traders, civil society organisations, and innovators—are being encouraged to participate and showcase their work. According to organisers, companies and institutions from across Africa can also enhance their visibility by associating their brands with the pan-African forum through partnerships and exhibition booths.

Registration and booth reservations are currently open through the FILIA secretariat, by email, phone, or through the official forum website. The forum is expected to strengthen continental dialogue on agricultural innovation and financing while contributing to Africa’s broader goal of achieving food security and climate resilience.

22 Zambian oncologists trained as Merck Foundation scales up cancer fight

By DOREEN NAWA Twenty-two Zambian oncologists have been trained over the past decade through the Merck Foundation’s oncology fellowship programme, boosting the country’s capacity to diagnose and treat cancer. As the world commemorates World Cancer Day 2026, the Merck Foundation, in partnership with African First Ladies, has intensified efforts to strengthen cancer care across Africa and parts of Asia, with Zambia among the beneficiaries of the initiative. The foundation has so far awarded 258 oncology scholarships to healthcare providers from 34 countries aimed at addressing the shortage of trained cancer specialists and improving early detection and treatment. Merck Foundation Chief Executive Officer, Senator Dr Rasha Kelej, disclosed in a statement marking World Cancer Day that the initiative focuses on building sustainable oncology capacity and multidisciplinary cancer care teams across participating countries. She said the foundation has also launched a children’s storybook and an adaptive animation film titled “Ray of Hope” to raise awareness about cancer, particularly childhood cancer. Dr Kelej explained that the programme seeks to address critical gaps in cancer care, including late diagnosis and limited access to specialised treatment. “Nearly two-thirds of cancer cases can be successfully treated when diagnosed early, and up to one-third can be prevented by reducing key risk factors such as exposure to radiation, certain infections and lifestyle-related causes,” she said. She noted that the storybook and animation film highlight the importance of early detection and access to well-trained cancer care teams capable of recognising early warning signs, especially among children. Dr Kelej said Merck Foundation’s work goes beyond commemorating World Cancer Day and focuses on sustained interventions to improve cancer care across underserved regions. “At Merck Foundation, we address one of the most critical gaps in cancer care in Africa, which is late diagnosis and the shortage of trained specialists. Together with African First Ladies, we have provided 258 oncology scholarships, significantly increasing the number of trained oncologists and multidisciplinary cancer care teams,” she said. The participating countries include Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo Brazzaville, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. According to Dr Kelej, several countries such as The Gambia, Sierra Leone, Burundi, Liberia, Guinea Conakry, Central African Republic, Chad and Niger previously had no oncologists before the programme. In total, the Merck Foundation has awarded more than 2,500 scholarships to healthcare providers from 52 countries across 44 critical and underserved medical specialties. World Health Organisation data from 2022 indicates that Africa records approximately 1.1 million new cancer cases annually, with about 700,000 cancer-related deaths. Mortality rates on the continent remain significantly higher than in many other regions due to late diagnosis, limited access to treatment and weak health systems. To further drive awareness, the Merck Foundation has developed cancer prevention and early detection materials, including leaflets and educational videos, while continuing to collaborate with African First Ladies and Ministries of Health through its Cancer Access Programme. The foundation has reaffirmed its commitment to transforming cancer care and improving patient outcomes across Africa, with the long-term goal of building a healthier future for the continent.