Merck Foundation strengthens Africa-Asia health and education push at 12th luminary conference
Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany, convened the 12th edition of its Africa Asia Luminary conference in partnership with the Government of The Gambia, reinforcing its long-running focus on healthcare capacity and social transformation.
The high-level gathering brought together African first ladies, ministers and development leaders to assess progress and outline the next phase of programs spanning medical education, media engagement and women empowerment. The conference was held in 2025 and streamed live across Merck Foundation platforms.
The event was co-chaired by H.E. Mrs. Fatoumatta Bah-Barrow, First Lady of The Gambia and ambassador of Merck Foundation’s More Than a Mother initiative, alongside Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation and president of More Than a Mother.
H.E. Madam Brigitte Touadera, First Lady of Central African Republic, joined as a guest of honor and keynote speaker, alongside first ladies from Burundi, Liberia, Nigeria, São Tomé and Príncipe, and Senegal. Their participation underscored a shared commitment to strengthening health systems and addressing deeply rooted social challenges.
Long-term partnerships and capacity building
Dr. Kelej highlighted the decade-long collaboration with Central African Republic, noting that since 2015 the partnership has delivered specialized scholarships for young doctors in fields such as oncology and diabetes. She described the relationship as a model for sustainable healthcare development through local capacity building.
Madam Touadera emphasized that the scholarships have enabled local doctors to train in critical specialties, helping to address long-standing gaps in national healthcare services. She also cited joint efforts to confront infertility stigma, including awareness campaigns that address both female and male infertility.
Beyond healthcare, she pointed to the Education Linda program, which provides annual scholarships to 40 underprivileged schoolgirls, supporting their completion of formal education and long-term empowerment.
Policy dialogue, awards and social impact
The conference opened with a plenary session featuring keynote addresses by African first ladies, followed by a ministerial panel focused on the Merck African Research Summit strategy. Discussions centered on strengthening scientific research ecosystems and expanding opportunities for women in STEM.
On the second day, the Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative committee meeting reviewed country-level impact reports and mapped future priorities with Merck Foundation leadership.
Merck Foundation and the Office of the First Lady of Central African Republic also announced a new call for applications for eight awards targeting media professionals, creatives and students. The awards aim to amplify messages on infertility stigma, girls’ education, gender-based violence, child marriage, female genital mutilation, women empowerment, and early detection and prevention of diabetes and hypertension.
The partnership has additionally delivered multiple editions of online health media training, released seven children’s storybooks addressing social and health themes, and adapted those stories into animated films to reach broader audiences.
