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Over 32,000 people from more than 70 countries participate in 8th Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary
The 8th edition of the Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary to mark the 4th anniversary of Merck Foundation has been held.
The programme which is being held via a virtual conference from April 27 to 29 is co-hosted by the First Lady of Zambia, Esther Lungu and Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Merck Foundation, to create the platform for dialogue measures for access to improved health care systems and enhanced capacity of medical practitioners.
The programme conducted online as a Videoconference, had more than 32,000 participants from more than 70 countries
made up of health ministers, medical practitioners, researchers, and the media among others discussing strategies and solutions for health challenges in their countries with that aim to contribute to improving access to quality participants.
Speaking at the inaugural session on Tuesday April 27, The Chief Executive Officer of Merck Foundation, Dr.Rasha Kelej, said as the CEO of Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck, “I am very proud to
work together with all of you to realize our vision of a world where ‘Everyone Can Lead a Healthy and Fulfilling Life.”
“It gives us a great honor to have The President of Zambia, H.E. MR. EDGAR CHAGWA LUNGU with us today to officially inaugurate the 8th Edition of Merck Africa Asia Luminary, that I Co-chair with The First Lady of Zambia, H. E. Mrs. ESTHER LUNGU”, she noted.
Dr.Kelej acknowledged the Chairman of Board of Trustees and Chairman of the Executive Board of E. Merck KG, Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp for his
valuable guidance and support for Merck Foundation strategy and programs which has enabled them to create a significant impact in the under-served communities across the world and specially during coronavirus pandemic.
She said the programme was aimed at equitable healthcare solutions and building healthcare capacity in many critical and underserved medical fields such as; Diabetes, cardiovascular, endocrinology, Cancer, Research, Fertility Care, Women Health, Sexual & Reproductive care, Respiratory Medicines, and Acute Medicines.
She added that More than 1100 doctor from 42 countries have benefited from Merck Foundation scholarship in the above fields, and more will join in the next few years to benefit from more scholarships in more specialties such as: Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology, Mental Health, Orthopedic Trauma, Paediatric, Emergency
Medicine, Dermatology, Neonatal Medicine, Pain Management, Psychiatry, Clinical
Microbiology & Infectious Diseases, Ophthalmology, Urology, Trauma and orthopedics.
According to Dr.Kelej, Merck Foundation started this smart capacity building strategy in partnership with African First Ladies and Ministries of Health and Medical Societies since 2012, which
contributed significantly towards transforming and reshaping the landscape of the public healthcare sector and towards advancing patient care in 42 countries.
President of The Republic of Zambia, Dr.Edgar Chagwa Lungu urged First Ladies of various countries to continue in their quest to prioritise the human lives in their respective countries through such strategic collaborations.
He said as the population of the continent grows to nearly 1.4 billion people, the leaders must build efficient healthcare systems and train more specialists to keep the population healthy and productive.
On this score he called for stronger political commitment and strategic partnership to be the way forward.
He expressed his appreciation to Merck Foundation for partnering other African countries to reshape and improve the healthcare systems.
The First Lady of Zambia, Esther Lungu, in her opening address said, ” let me recognize my Co-Chair, Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej and take this opportunity to congratulate you on your appointment as Senator of the Egyptian Senate from 2020 to 2025 by the President of the Arab Republic of Egypt, His Excellency Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.”
She noted that Merck Foundation has been a long-term partner in building capacity for health workers, in improving access to healthcare, information and breaking the
silence,stigma and discrimination associated with infertility.
“We are indebted to Merck Foundation for selecting Zambia to host this important knowledge-platform where we will discuss cross cutting issues to address various health and social challenges besidesfindingsolutions to improve the health and wellbeing of our nations,” the First Lady of Zambia added.
On her part, the first lady of Ghana, Mrs Rebecca Akufo-Addo said, the Merck Foundation had partnered Ghana on numerous area in resolving some challenges in the health sector.
This, she said included training of medical practitioners, launching of campaigns to create awareness and building robust health system among others.
She urged other African countries to take a lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic to build a efficient health systems to fight future pandemics.
Together with other First Ladies from Africa among others, they discuss strategy realization to build healthcare capacity, respond to the Covid-19 pandemic, provide the necessary training to establish a strong platform of experts in many important and critical specialties in their countries in collaboration with their Offices and Ministries of Health.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
Troubled and anxious citizens in Damongo of the Savannah Region have expressed concerns about the number of young people, believed to be under the age of 18, involved in ‘shisha’ smoking in pubs and drinking spots within the township.
Eyewitnesses say the minors were seen patronising nightlife venues, where Shisha smoking happen in the open.
The situation has sparked renewed public concern over the enforcement of child protection laws and regulations governing the operations of entertainment centres in the municipality and country as a whole.
An eyewitness, who spoke to The Spectator on conditions of anonymity for security reasons, noted that the situation was becoming increasingly common.
“This is not a one-off incident. It is becoming very common, but residents like us cannot openly report or speak about it because our lives will be at risk,” he said.
Under Ghanaian law, minors were prohibited from patronising Shisha.
Public health experts have consistently warned that shisha use exposes users to harmful substances that can negatively affect brain development, respiratory health, and overall well-being, particularly among young people.
The residents believe the alleged incidents point to broader challenges relating to youth supervision, substance abuse, and weak enforcement of existing regulations and have called on municipal authorities, security agencies, and regulatory bodies to intensify monitoring of pubs and entertainment centres to ensure compliance with the law.
In an effort to address the menace, Mr Salisu Be-Awurbi, the Savannah Regional Minister, has led public education campaigns, engaged security agencies, and supported enforcement actions to address the rising use of illicit substances in the region.
Wura Kelly Seidu Boresah I, the Chief of Damongo, has also called on all stakeholders including parents, community leaders, institutions, and young people to actively support efforts to curb drug abuse, warning that the rising consumption of hard drugs poses a serious health threat to the future of the youth in the Savannah Region.
He also cautioned individuals involved in the sale and distribution of illicit drugs to immediately desist from the practice, stressing that offenders will face arrest and prosecution in accordance with the law.
From Geoffrey Buta, Damongo, Savannah Region
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Dr Theresa Baffour, an advocate for ending violence and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SAHM SAHW Foundation, has said that society plays a critical and pivotal role in breaking the cycle of domestic violence.
According to her, domestic violence is a major contributor of making women, who are mostly the victims, mentally derailed and unable to engage in economic activities.
She said this when the foundation called on the Ga Mantse, Nii Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, to solicit support for the initiative by the “Strong and Healthy Minds, Strong and Healthy Women” (SAHM SAHW) to combat domestic violence within the Ga State.
The visit was occasioned by the fact that domestic violence cases have become quite prevalent in the Ga communities and is retarding growth.
According to her, the canker was an impediment to national development because the victims were usually tortured and would have to go through series of therapies to return to the right state of mind.
Dr Baffour mentioned that Gender-Based Violence (GBV) places a mental toll on women, and was, therefore, important to break the cycle through comprehensive mental health support, crisis intervention and empowerment programmes in communities with high rates of GBV.
This intervention, she underscored, would help in empowering the denigrated victim of domestic violence to soundly heal, build and thrive.
Dr Baffour added that the initiative would provide holistic, trauma-informed mental health care and advocacy for young women affected by domestic violence.
According to her, the above statement would create safe spaces for healing and equipping them with entrepreneurial skills for renewed hope and empowered life.
The Ga Mantse pledged his support for the laudable initiative to combat domestic violence and also acknowledged the need to address it in the Ga State.
Further endorsement came from Justice Julia Naa-Yarley Adjei Amoah, Chief of Staff at the Office of the Ga Mantse, as she commended the team of SAHM SAHW Foundation for taking a bold step to end the canker in the Greater Accra.
She added that it was a step in the right direction to save vulnerable women from torture, stress and emotional abuse.
By Alfred Nii Arday Ankrah
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