Banjul: The 12th Edition of the Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary has been held in Banjul, The Gambia, with a call on African governments to strengthen partnerships and commitments to advance the health and education of their people as well as gender equality. The conference, one of Africa's largest annual health and development gatherings, brought together first ladies from The Gambia, Burundi, Central African Republic, Liberia, So Tom© and Prncipe, Senegal, and Nigeria, alongside over 6,000 health experts, policymakers, and media practitioners.
According to Ghana News Agency, the two-day event, held on the theme: 'Building Healthcare Capacity and Breaking Stigma Across Africa and Asia,' provided a platform to discuss strategies for empowering the next generation of African leaders and healthcare providers. The Luminary, organised in partnership with The Gambian Government, was co-chaired by Mrs Fatoumatta Bah-Barrow, the country's First Lady, and Senator Dr Rasha Kelej, the Chief Executive Officer of Merck Foundation.
Inaugurating the conference, Mr Muhammad B.S. Jallow, Vice President of The Gambia, commended Merck Foundation and the African First Ladies for their leadership and dedication to improving the lives of women, girls, and vulnerable populations. He highlighted the importance of care for the sick, education for the young, and empowerment of the vulnerable as crucial elements for real progress. Vice President Jallow reaffirmed the country's commitment to gender equity, citing initiatives such as free education for girls and efforts to increase women's representation in decision-making roles.
Mrs Fatoumatta Bah-Barrow emphasized the significance of the partnership with Merck Foundation in strengthening The Gambia's healthcare system. She noted that more than 100 Gambian doctors had benefited from scholarships in various critical and underserved specialties. She stressed the importance of building human capacity for sustainable health systems, highlighting the challenges faced by healthcare workers across Africa.
The First Lady also underscored the crucial role of journalists in promoting responsible health reporting, especially in combating misinformation that could undermine public trust. She encouraged other first ladies to use their influence to amplify the voices of the vulnerable and work towards achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Dr Rasha Kelej, Co-Chairperson of the Luminary and CEO of Merck Foundation, reiterated the Foundation's commitment to transforming healthcare and advancing gender equality through science and education. She highlighted the Foundation's efforts in providing over 2,400 scholarships for healthcare providers from 52 countries in critical specialties.
Professor Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp, Chairman of the Merck Foundation Board of Trustees, pointed out the shortage of trained healthcare professionals as a significant barrier to accessing quality healthcare in Africa. He praised the collaboration between Merck Foundation and African governments, emphasizing the realization of the Foundation's vision for healthy and happy lives through sustainable partnerships.
The Luminary also celebrated 13 years of Merck Foundation's development initiatives, which began in 2012. Established in 2017, the Foundation aims to improve access to quality and equitable healthcare solutions in underserved communities while empowering women and youth through education and training.
