Accra, Oct. 17, GNA – The 12th Edition of the Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary has been held in Banjul, The Gambia, with a call on African governments to strengthen partnerships and commitments to advance the health and education of their people as well as gender equality.
The conference, one of Africa’s largest annual health and development gatherings, brought together first ladies from The Gambia, Burundi, Central African Republic, Liberia, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, and Nigeria, alongside over 6,000 health experts, policymakers, and media practitioners.
The two-day event, held on the theme: “Building Healthcare Capacity and Breaking Stigma Across Africa and Asia,” provided a platform to discuss strategies for empowering the next generation of African leaders and healthcare providers.
The Luminary, organised in partnership with The Gambian Government, was co-chaired by Mrs Fatoumatta Bah-Barrow, the country’s First Lady, and Senator Dr Rasha Kelej, the Chief Executive Officer of Merck Foundation.
Inaugurating the conference, Mr Muhammad B.S. Jallow, Vice President of The Gambia, commended Merck Foundation and the African First Ladies for their leadership and dedication to improving the lives of women, girls, and vulnerable populations.
“Real progress begins when we care for the sick, educate the young, and empower the vulnerable. Your joint efforts in improving healthcare in Africa through scholarships, professional training, and public awareness campaigns are remarkable,” he said.
Vice President Jallow reaffirmed the country’s commitment to gender equity, highlighting government initiatives such as free education for girls and efforts to increase women’s representation in decision-making roles.
Mrs Fatoumatta Bah-Barrow said The Gambia’s partnership with Merck Foundation had been pivotal in strengthening the country’s healthcare system.
She noted that more than 100 Gambian doctors had benefited from scholarships in oncology, fertility, embryology, reproductive health, respiratory care, acute medicine, infectious diseases, and paediatrics.
“Through our partnership with Merck Foundation, 94 Gambian doctors have received scholarships in more than 30 critical and underserved specialties. Many are now the first specialists in their fields, helping to transform our public healthcare landscape,” she said.
She emphasised that building human capacity remained vital for sustainable health systems, as many healthcare workers across Africa continued to be overburdened and under-resourced.
The First Lady underscored the importance of supporting journalists to promote responsible health reporting, particularly in an era where misinformation could undermine public trust and endanger lives.
“Journalists have the power to inform, educate, and inspire action,” she said, adding: “They must be equipped to deliver accurate, ethical, and fact-based health information that can save lives.”
She urged other first ladies to continue to use their influence and platforms to amplify the voices of the vulnerable and work together towards achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Dr Rasha Kelej, Co-Chairperson of the Luminary and CEO of Merck Foundation, said the Foundation’s programmes were designed to bridge critical health gaps and empower African nations to provide better medical services for their citizens.
She reaffirmed the Foundation’s commitment to transforming healthcare and advancing gender equality through science and education.
“Our work goes beyond medicine – it’s about transforming lives, building resilience, and giving every community the tools to thrive,” she said.
The Foundation, Dr Kelej noted, had provided more than 2,400 scholarships for doctors and healthcare providers from 52 countries in over 44 critical and underserved specialties.
“Together with our partners and the First Ladies of Africa, we are transforming patient care and making history,” she added.
Professor Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp, Chairman of the Merck Foundation Board of Trustees, said financial constraints were not the only challenge facing Africa, but a greater concern was the shortage of trained healthcare professionals capable of preventing, diagnosing, and managing diseases.
“This sweeping shortage of medical and healthcare personnel remains one of the most critical barriers to accessing quality healthcare across the continent,” he said.
He lauded the collaboration between Merck Foundation and African governments, saying the Foundation’s vision that “everyone can lead a healthy and happy life” was being realised through sustainable partnerships in training and social development.
The Luminary also marked 13 years of Merck Foundation’s development initiatives, which began in 2012.
The Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany, was established in 2017 to improve access to quality and equitable healthcare solutions in underserved communities while empowering women and youth through education and training.
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe