Nairobi: Senator Rasha Kelej (Ret.) welcomed the First Lady of Kenya, H.E. Mrs. Rachel Ruto, at the 7th Edition of the Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative Summit. The summit was conducted by the Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany, to discuss joint programs focused on building healthcare capacity. The event was inaugurated by Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp, Chairman of the Merck Foundation Board of Trustees, and Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej (Ret.), along with First Ladies from various African and Asian countries.
According to African Press Organization, Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej expressed her pleasure in meeting the First Lady of Kenya, highlighting the provision of 244 scholarships for Kenyan doctors in critical and underserved specialties. These fields include Fertility and Embryology, Oncology, Diabetes, Endocrinology, and more. Notably, around 50% of these scholarships have been awarded to female healthcare providers, a milestone in women's empowerment.
H.E. Mrs. Rachel Ruto emphasized the significance of the partnership with Merck Foundation, stating that the scholarships provided to Kenyan doctors will transform the public healthcare landscape, improving the quality and accessibility of healthcare in the nation. Additionally, the partnership supports girl education through the Educating Linda program, which provides annual scholarships to 47 best-performing but underprivileged girls.
The summit also included a committee meeting on the second day, where African and Asian First Ladies shared impact reports of Merck Foundation programs in their countries and discussed future strategies. The foundation has provided a total of 2,500 scholarships to healthcare providers from 52 countries in underserved specialties, demonstrating a commitment to building healthcare capacity.
Merck Foundation has also initiated programs to address social and health issues, including media training, awards for media, musicians, and filmmakers, and the release of children's storybooks addressing topics like infertility stigma and girl education. The foundation's initiatives aim to transform patient care and raise awareness through various media and artistic channels.
The partnership between Merck Foundation and the First Lady of Kenya also launched children's storybooks in multiple languages to address social and health issues, with plans to release them in Swahili. The foundation's efforts are part of a broader strategy to drive cultural change and break the silence on critical issues in Africa and beyond.