The Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany, convened the 7th Edition of the Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative (MFFLI) Summit 2025 on 19–20 June, gathering First Ladies from 14 African and Asian countries to reflect on progress in healthcare capacity building and social development programs.
The high-level summit was inaugurated by Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp, Chairman of the Merck Foundation Board of Trustees, and Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation and President of MFFLI, alongside the First Ladies who served as Guests of Honor and Keynote Speakers.
A Collective Commitment to Social Change
In her opening remarks, Dr. Rasha Kelej praised the First Ladies’ dedication to the “More Than a Mother” campaign and broader Merck Foundation initiatives.
“Together we reflected on the impact of our programs and discussed our strategy to expand our efforts to build healthcare capacity and raise awareness on critical issues such as infertility stigma, girls’ education, child marriage, FGM, GBV, women empowerment, diabetes and hypertension,” she said.
Prof. Dr. Stangenberg-Haverkamp commended the First Ladies’ achievements, describing their contributions as “vital” to the foundation’s global mission.
Voices of Change: First Ladies Share National Impact
Throughout the inauguration session, the First Ladies outlined the milestones achieved through their partnership with Merck Foundation. These included expanded medical scholarships, community awareness programs, and major investments in girls’ education.
Highlights include:
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Zimbabwe: 130 scholarships for local doctors and full support for 40 schoolgirls.
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Kenya: 244 medical scholarships—half awarded to women—and support for 47 schoolgirls.
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Ghana: 210 scholarships and educational support for 20 underprivileged girls.
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The Gambia: 88 scholarships and support for 40 schoolgirls.
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Liberia: 51 medical scholarships and 20 schoolgirls supported; the current Minister of Health is a Merck Foundation alumnus.
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Senegal, Nigeria, Mozambique, Maldives, São Tomé and Príncipe, Cabo Verde, Gabon, Central African Republic, and Angola also reported significant advancements in healthcare training and social development programs.
First-time participants—including the First Ladies of Senegal, Nigeria, Ghana, and Mozambique—expressed admiration for the platform and reaffirmed their commitment to deepening national partnerships.
Unprecedented Investment in Medical Training
To date, Merck Foundation has awarded more than 2,400 scholarships to young doctors across 52 countries, strengthening healthcare systems in 44 critical and underserved specialties such as Oncology, Embryology, Diabetes, Fertility, Neonatal Care, Cardiology, Psychiatry and more.
Driving Social Transformation Through Media, Arts and Education
Beyond healthcare training, Merck Foundation continues to champion a cultural shift across the continent through media, arts, and education initiatives:
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3,700+ journalists trained across 35 countries
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8 annual awards for impactful storytelling in media, film, music, and fashion
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30 social-impact songs by African artists
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9 children’s storybooks in four languages
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6 awareness animation films
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The acclaimed “Our Africa by Merck Foundation” TV program
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1040+ schoolgirls supported annually through the Educating Linda program
With a digital footprint of over 8.5 million followers, Merck Foundation continues to amplify awareness of health and social challenges across Africa.
A Shared Vision for a Healthier Future
The summit reinforced a unified commitment to addressing systemic challenges—infertility stigma, gender inequality, access to healthcare, and girls’ education—through long-term partnerships between Merck Foundation and participating nations.
The full proceedings, including keynote speeches from each First Lady, were streamed live across Merck Foundation and Dr. Rasha Kelej’s social media channels.
