‘Empower women, build resilient healthcare systems, across Africa’

The First Lady of The Gambia, Mrs Fatoumatta Bah-Barrow, and the Chairman of the Executive Board of E. Merck KG and Board of Trustees of the Merck Foundation, Prof. Dr Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp, have called for stronger partnerships to, empower women, build resilient healthcare systems and promote responsible health journalism across Africa.

They made the call at the 12th Edition of the Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary, held at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Centre in Banjul.

The event, hosted under the patronage of President Adama Barrow and Mrs Bah-Barrow, brought together First Ladies, health ministers, and stakeholders from more than 50 countries.

Mrs Bah-Barrow urged participants to remain united in strengthening health systems and improving lives, saying health was not merely the absence of illness, but the presence of opportunity.

Mrs Bah-Barrow also emphasised the role of the media in shaping public perception and behaviour, stressing that responsible health reporting saves lives.

“Journalists have the power to inform, educate, and inspire action, but they must be well-equipped to do so ethically and accurately. We have seen how misinformation can cost lives,” she cautioned.

In his remarks, Prof. Dr Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp revealed that since 2012, the Merck Foundation has provided over 2,400 scholarships to healthcare professionals from 52 countries to specialise in 44 critical fields to address Africa’s shortage of medical experts.

“Africa bears 24 per cent of the global disease burden but has only 2.9 per cent healthcare workers per 1,000 people. Through training and education, we are closing that gap,” he said.

The Chief Executive Officer of Merck Foundation, Dr Rasha Kalej said the foundation was supporting over 1,000 girls under the ‘educating Linda’ programme to finish their high school education and enable them fulfill their dreams.

She said with the support of the First Ladies “we are providing annually 40 scholarships for high performing but underprivileged girls until they finish their education.”

By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu

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