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10th Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary: We have made significant impact by building healthcare and media capacity – Dr. Rasha Kelej
CEO of Merck Foundation and President of Merck More Than a Mother, Dr.Rasha Kelej has recounted her outfit’s impact in the area of healthcare and media capacity across many countries.
She made these remarks at the ongoing 10th Edition of Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary happening in India.
The programme was today, Wednesday, October, 18, inaugurated by Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp; Chairman of both the Executive Board of E. Merck KG and Merck Foundation Board of Trustees.
Like the last edition, the 10th Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary is happening in a hybrid model to enable more than 6000 participants from more than 70 countries to safely and effectively meet and discuss strategies and solutions for the health challenges in their countries with the aim to contribute to improving access to quality and equitable healthcare solutions and building media capacity and healthcare capacity in many critical and underserved medical fields.
Speaking at the ceremony,the CEO of Merck Foundation, Dr.Rasha Kelej said, “we commemorate two very important milestones: the 6th Anniversary of the establishment of the Merck Foundation in 2017, and 11th Anniversary of our development initiatives in Africa, Asia, and underserved communities, marking the inception of our programs in 2012.”
She said, since then, they have come a long way together with their partners, and made significant impact by building healthcare and media capacity, breaking infertility stigma, empowering women – childless women in particular, supporting girl education and raising awareness on a wide range of social and health issues.
“ I am proud that have achieved great success, and we are improving and amplifying our efforts, year on year,” she added.
Dr.Kelej expressed her excitement saying, “I am happy that that our partners, African First Ladies also the Ambassadors of Merck Foundation, are going to share with you all the report of the progress and impact made in their respective countries. I am sure that you all are looking forward to hearing from them their success stories.”
“Ladies and gentlemen, we are committed from past 11 years, towards healthcare capacity advancement and patient care transformation and reshaping the landscape of the public healthcare sector in 50 countries in Africa, Asia and beyond,” she stressed.
Additionally, she disclosed “I feel proud to share with you all that Merck Foundation has provided more than 1700 scholarships to young doctors from 50 countries in 42 critical and underserved specialities such as; Diabetes, Endocrinology, Oncology, Cardiovascular, Fertility Care, Embryology, Sexual & Reproductive Medicine, Internal Medicine, Respiratory Medicine, Acute Medicine, Critical Care, Paediatric Emergency, Gastroenterology, Rheumatology, Clinical Psychiatry, Urology, Ophthalmology, General Surgery, Trauma & Orthopaedic, Dermatology, Neonatal Care, Pain Management, Emergency & Resuscitation, Laparoscopic Surgical Skills, Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases, Advanced Surgical Practice, Neuroimaging for Research and many more.”
“It’s worth noting that a substantial number of these scholarships were provided in India by premier institutes providing the best-in-class clinical training like Tata Memorial Centre, Manipal University, Maharashtra University, Krishna University, Indra IVF Training, and others. Consequently, we are delighted to be in India this year to mark a decade of our esteemed partnership with our Indian partners,” she said.
Dr.Kelej noted that they are making history and legacy in Africa by training the first Fertility specialists, Embryologists, Oncologists, Diabetes, Endocrinology, Respiratory experts and more in many countries like Liberia, The Gambia, Burundi, Malawi, Sierra Leone, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Guinea and Ethiopia, Congo and more.
“Together with our partners like Africa’s First Ladies, Ministries of Health, Gender, Education and Communication, Academia, Medical societies, we are impacting the lives of people in the most disadvantaged communities in Africa, Asia and beyond,” she added.
“As you all know, we are also marking the Cancer Awareness Month, by wearing the pink ribbon today. I am proud to share that we have provided 138 scholarships to doctors from 28 countries for Oncology training. Most of these scholarships have been provided in India through our partners – Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai and Varanasi; Krishna World University, Karad; and BBCI, Assam.
We are proud of it,” she noted.
The CEO of Merck Foundation further added, apart from healthcare capacity advancement, “we are also working hard to raise awareness on a wide range of sensitive and critical social and health issues like Supporting Girl Education, Ending Child Marriage, Stopping GBV, Breaking Infertility Stigma, Ending FGM, Women Empowerment, Diabetes Awareness, and Hypertension Awareness; through our various initiatives like Health Media Training, our 8 important awards for media, fashion designers, filmmakers and singers, songs, children storybook and also animation movies.”
“Today we are going to play for you all “Sugar Free Jude”, the first animation film that addresses diabetes prevention and early detection in Africa. This is another huge step of ours towards using art and creativity to address different sensitive health and social issues in Africa. I urge you all to share this film on your social media, TV stations and websites of hospitals, clinics, schools and clubs to support our efforts in fighting diabetes in Africa every day,”She added.
According to her “Sugar Free Jude” is of course one of the series of 7 Animation films her outfit is releasing, on various topics like Hypertension Awareness, Supporting Girl Education, Ending GBV and Child Marriage and more.
These animation films are aimed at communicating important messages, not only to children but also to adults, in a very entertaining way.
“We also launched our first TV program – ‘Our Africa by Merck Foundation’, to be the voice of the voiceless and break the silence about many critical and sensitive social and health issues in Africa. This unique program addresses various social and health issues relevant to Africa through our African Community of Fashion and Art with Purpose. The program has been and is still being broadcast on leading TV Stations of many countries. I invite you all to watch our program on our social media, She added.
She further emphasised that “as you all would agree Educating Girls offers numerous benefits to a country’s development and progress. When girls receive quality education, it empowers them with knowledge, skills, and opportunities, enabling them to make informed choices about their lives.
“This, in turn, leads to improved health outcomes, reduced child mortality rates, and better family planning. Moreover, supporting in girl education also promotes gender equality and reduces child marriages. With this thought we are successfully implementing our Educating Linda program together with my dear sisters, African First Ladies,” she noted.
Through this programme, Merck Foundation is sponsoring the education of many young girls who are unprivileged but brilliant, till they graduate. They want to provide an opportunity to these girls to pursue their dreams and reach their potential through access to education.
She was optimistic that “Together with our partners, we will continue to make a difference in people’s lives.
It is my great honour to have you all, and my Guests of Honour with us today.”
“I am confident that the two-day conference will bring significant benefits to all of you. Thank you very much,” she concluded.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
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ASWIM lauds Prof Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang
The Association of Women in the Media, (ASWIM) has congratulated Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang on her historic achievement as Ghana’s first female Vice President.
The association said her trailblazing journey with sterling accomplishments from academia to politics, is undoubtedly, a vivid inspiration to countless women and girls across Ghana and Africa.
This was contained in a statement signed by its president, Mrs Mavis Kitcher, and copied to The Spectator on Tuesday in Accra.
“ASWIM celebrates your remarkable career, marked by numerous firsts, including the first female Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, (UCC), and the first female to hold a professional chair in Ghana, (UCC),” the statement said.
It said the accomplishments of Prof Opoku- Agyemang were clear testament to the brilliance, resilience and resourceful nature of the complete beautiful African woman.
“As she takes on this new role, ASWIM proudly lauds her commitment to education, women’s empowerment, distinguished public service and patriotism and is very confident that her pursuit of excellence, love for humanity, humility, decency, modesty and commitment to the welfare of the vulnerable will characterise Ghana’s political leadership and public service,” the statement added.
By Jemima Esinam Kuatsinu
Entertainment
Demolition of Fantasy Dome unfair — Mark Okraku-Mantey
Months after the Fantasy Dome was dismantled to make way for construction at the Ghana International Trade Fair site, the Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr Mark Okraku-Mantey, has expressed concern over the manner the facility was destroyed.
In an interview on Daybreak Hitz with Andy Dosty, Mr Okraku-Mantey criticised the handling of the dome’s dismantling, suggesting that it could have been done without causing damage.
“I don’t think that leadership gave instructions that they should do what happened. The structure was a prefab but I hear the people destroyed it. That one, we cannot defend it. It is unfair to him (owner). Sometimes, you give instructions and people will go and do things that will make you look bad,” he stated.
When asked about any punitive measure against the workers responsible for the destruction, Mr Okraku-Mantey clarified that the Trade Fair does not fall under his ministry.
He said he had previously contacted the owner, Leslie Quaynor, to discuss relocating the dome, and even suggested the National Museum as a potential site, though it was too small.
The demolition of the 20,000-seater Fantasy Dome occurred on March 16, 2024.
According to Dr Agnes Adu, CEO of the Ghana Trade Fair Company Limited, the action was taken after multiple notices were given to Quaynor to vacate the premises for redevelopment, as per their tenancy agreement.
Dr Adu noted that all previous tenants had complied except for the Fantasy Dome.
Quaynor, in an interview with JoyNews, confirmed that his lease had ended, and was in the process of relocating the dome.
He had requested an extension, which was denied, leading him to seek a writ and an injunction from an Accra High Court to halt the demolition.
Despite this, the demolition proceeded, causing significant damage to the structure.
Quaynor described the incident as a major setback, not only for his business but also for the entertainment industry, which relies on venues like the Fantasy Dome.
