By UJA TEAM TUESDAY 29 Oct 2024.
Deepen SDGs to Address the Prevailing Health and Social Concerns-Merck Foundation Luminaries.
Calls for deepening the implementation towards realization of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and renewed commitment towards the fight against the increased sensitive health and social concerns are some of the issues that dominated the 11th Merck Foundation (MF) annual conference dubbed; the Merck Foundation Africa, Asia Luminary, that was held in Dar Es Salaam city in the East African 2nd largest country- Tanzania.
The 2024 Merck Foundation Africa- Asia Luminary that saw 400 participants from over 70 African and Asian communities including among others; media professionals under various professional bodies, medical professionals, politicians, and first ladies in attendance, was opened by the Tanzanian president Dr. Hassan Samia Suluhu.
The Uganda Journalists Association (UJA) is among the professional societies that attended the Tuesday October 29th – 30th 2024, convention held at Johari Rotana Hotel in Dar Es Salaam.
Highlighting SDGs; 3 for good health, 4 for quality education and 17 for partnerships during her inaugural address to the luminaries, president Suluhu underscored the need for their concerted focus and substantial investment if the lifelong opportunities are to be achieved, as envisaged in the 2015 UN development agenda for all nations.
“It is a great honor to inaugurate the conference alongside the First Ladies of Africa and Asia. I am certain that this conference will help us to achieve our shared mission to make a transformation in the health and well-being of our people’’, president Suluhu emphasized.
Suluhu heaped praises on Merck Foundation for making investment in programs that are pro communities such as building healthcare capacity, breaking infertility stigma, and supporting girl education.
Merck Foundation Speaks out on Social, Health Concerns.
Speaking during the 11th edition of Merck Foundation Africa- Asia Luminary, Professor Dr. Frank Stangenberg the Foundations’ chairperson Board of Trustees expressed fear over the increased social and health concerns among the population including among others; infertility and infertility stigma, child marriage, school dropout, Gender-Based Violence, (GBV), cancers, diabetes, hypertension and Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) whose prevalence needs to be broken.
Dr. Stangenberg pointed out the scarcity challenge of trained medical providers that are capable to handle disease diagnosis, prevention and management on African content, which has a far reaching impact on public health service delivery before he could emphasize the need for a transformed African society livelihood built on good health care.
“I would like to thank H.E. Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan, The President of Tanzania, our partners, The First Ladies of Africa and Asia, along with African Ministers, Health Experts, Policy Makers, Government Officials, Academia and Media from over 70 countries for joining hands with us to realize the Merck Foundation’s vision that “Everyone can lead a Healthy and Happy life”, Stangenberg observed.
The Merck Foundation’s C.E.O Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej who was also in attendance of the same convention saluted the Suluhu led government for providing all the support that enabled the convention to be held successfully.
“I am honored to welcome our esteemed Guests of Honor and Keynote Speakers, the First Ladies of African and Asian Countries, also the Ambassadors of the “Merck Foundation More Than a Mother”. Together, we shared experiences and engaged in meaningful discussions on the impact of our programs, aimed at transforming patient care and raising awareness on a wide range of critical social and health issues”, Dr. Kalej said
Genesis of Merck Foundation Merck More Than a Mother Campaign.
The former Ugandan State Minister for Health Sarah Opendi told the UJA team in an exclusive interview at the sidelines of the 2024 11th Merck Foundation Africa-Asia Luminary Convention in Dar Es Salaam, that the ‘Merck More than a Mother Campaign’ was birthed in Uganda under her witness as initial pioneer health minister with only one first lady on board.
“The first anniversary of Merck Foundation (MF) was commemorated in Uganda with the First Lady of the Central African Republic visiting and at that time she was the one on board. I am glad that today many First Ladies have joined the campaign as mothers of the nation to ensure that countries invest in women’s health.
Opendi who is the Uganda’s crowned MF Ambassador and the current Uganda Women Parliamentary Association (UWOPA) chairperson confirmed that as ex State Primary Health Care Minister with MF C.E.O Rasha Kalej championed the ‘Merck More than a Mother Campaign’ which was to de stigmatize infertility but also ensuring that they reached out the population to appreciate that infertility is not a woman issue through media.
“At the launch of the campaign, about 5 fertility clinics were in Uganda, now they are about 20 and beyond and we are still counting”
The Tororo District Woman MP hailed the MF for supporting Uganda by training doctors in specialized oncology and embryology field cadres to foster cancer treatment, before she could pray for her reversion to its roots in Uganda when it celebrates the 10th anniversary.
African, Asian First Ladies Grace the Convention.
Fifteen (15) first ladies from African and Asian countries attended the convention under which the MF’s 7th anniversary and 12 years of development programs that started in 2012 was marked. The First Ladies are as follows;
1. ANGELINE NDAYISHIMIYE, The First Lady of the Republic of Burundi
2. Dr. DÉBORA KATISA CARVALHO, The First Lady of the Republic of Cabo Verde
3. BRIGITTE TOUADERA, The First Lady of Central African Republic
4. DENISE NYAKERU TSHISEKEDI, The First Lady of the Democratic Republic of The Congo
5. ZITA OLIGUI NGUEMA, The First Lady of the Gabonese Republic
6. FATOUMATTA BAH-BARROW, The First Lady of the Republic of The Gambia
7. REBECCA AKUFO-ADDO, The First Lady of the Republic of Ghana
8. RACHEL RUTO, The First Lady of Kenya
9. KARTUMU YARTA BOAKAI, The First Lady of the Republic of Liberia
10. MONICA CHAKWERA, The First Lady of the Republic of Malawi
11. SAJIDHA MOHAMED, The First Lady of the Republic of Maldives
12. ISAURA FERRÃO NYUSI, The First Lady of the Republic of Mozambique
13. MARIA DE FATIMA VILA NOVA, The First Lady of the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe
14. MARIAM MWINYI, The First Lady of Zanzibar
15. Amai Dr. AUXILLIA MNANGAGWA, The First Lady of the Republic of Zimbabwe
