The Merck Foundation is stepping up efforts in capacity building by offering scholarships to boost the number of trained Health specialists across Africa and Asia.
Speaking at the 12th Edition of the Merck Foundation Africa- Asia Luminary held in The Gambia, The Foundation’s Chief Executive Officer Dr. Rasha Kelej highlighted the work done first ladies, including Rachel Ruto.
“We have worked with many first ladies over the years, together we had provided more than 2,400 scholarships for doctors and healthcare providers from 52 countries in more than 42 medical, underserved and critical specialties.” She said.
The event, which was co-chaired by Madam Fatoumatta Bah-Barrow, the first lady of The Gambia, highlighted the impact of investing in training to equip various countries with healthcare professionals and address the severe shortage of skilled Specialists.
In Kenya, for instance, the ratio of doctors to patients is at one doctor per 5,263 people, this is according to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS),this is number is significantly lower that the recommended ratio by the World Health Organization of 1 doctor for every 1000 people.
Since 2012,the Merck Foundation has awarded 244 scholarships for Kenyan doctors, 50 percent of them women, they have also introduced a scholarship program for brilliant young girls known as ‘Educating Linda’ in hopes that they stay in school.
“Many of the beneficiaries became the first specialists in their countries,” said CEO Rasha Kelej. “This program is transforming patient care across Africa, especially in countries that previously had no local specialists in fields like oncology or fertility care.”
The foundation offers scholarships for critical specialties like, oncology, fertility, diabetes, intensive care, and pediatrics. By investing in people the foundation hopes to change the face of African healthcare.
Speaking at the same event chairman of the Board of Trustees Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp noted that sustainable change can only be realized by investing in people.
“Healthcare is not just about treating illness it is about creating opportunity and dignity, by investing in people, we are creating sustainable change.”
Apart from Scholarships for Doctors and the Educating Linda Program the foundation also runs a ‘More Than a Mother’ Program meant to challenge infertility stigma rampant in the African communities.
He added, “Good healthcare can transform the lives of individuals and families across developing countries. It significantly contributes to the economic and social development of any country because healthcare is a major driver of both. Therefore, we are strongly committed to transforming patient care landscape through our scholarships program.”
