Merck Foundation reaffirms commitment to girls’ education, scholarships, medical  training programmes

The Chief Executive Officer of Merck Foundation, Dr Rasha Kelej, has reaffirmed the Foundation’s commitment to supporting girls’ education and strengthening healthcare systems across Africa and Asia through scholarships and medical training programmes.

Speaking at the 13th Edition of the Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary 2026, held virtually, Dr Kelej said educating girls remains one of the Foundation’s key priorities because it empowers them to achieve their dreams and contribute meaningfully to society.

 The virtual meeting brought together First Ladies from about 13 African countries including policymakers, health experts and development partners to discuss solutions for strengthening healthcare systems and improving patient outcomes across Africa and Asia.

She disclosed that 50 per cent of all scholarships awarded by the Foundation were reserved for female healthcare professionals as part of efforts to promote women’s empowerment and gender equity in the health sector.

According to her, Merck Foundation has awarded more than 2,000 scholarships to healthcare providers in critical underserved specialties, including oncology, family medicine, paediatrics and child health, while also supporting efforts to improve mental healthcare and reduce stigma associated with mental illness.

Dr Kelej noted that many African countries continue to face challenges such as inadequate financial resources and shortages of trained healthcare professionals, making investment in medical education essential for improving healthcare delivery.

Meanwhile, the Director of Tata Memorial Centre (TMC), India, Prof. Dr Sudeep Gupta, praised the partnership between Merck Foundation and Tata Memorial Centre, describing it as a successful model for healthcare capacity building.

Prof. Gupta said the collaboration, which began in 2016, has supported 141 scholarships for healthcare professionals from 27 African countries.

He explained that the initiative aims to improve access to quality and equitable cancer care, particularly in underserved communities, while addressing the shortage of trained oncology specialists across the continent.

According to him, Tata Memorial Centre, one of India’s leading cancer institutions, currently operates 11 hospitals across seven states and treats thousands of cancer patients annually, many from disadvantaged backgrounds.

The scholarship programme has provided training in several oncology specialties, including medical oncology, surgical oncology, radiation oncology, paediatric oncology, gynecologic oncology and palliative care. It has also supported training for nurses, laboratory technologists, radiation technologists and oncology researchers.

Prof. Gupta stressed that cancer care requires a multidisciplinary approach involving different healthcare professionals working together to deliver quality care.

He expressed gratitude to Merck Foundation, African and Asian First Ladies, and participating governments for supporting the initiative.

He reaffirmed Tata Memorial Centre’s commitment to expanding the partnership through education, research and institutional collaboration to ensure that every patient, regardless of financial status, has access to timely, affordable and high-quality cancer care.

By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu