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.
