The Merck Foundation has provided more than 2,270 scholarships to medical doctors across Africa and Asia. The aim of this initiative is to strengthen the healthcare systems of the country by building capacity.
The organization is helping nations develop their healthcare system in what they have seen are 44 important but underserved medical specialties. The 7th edition of the Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative (MFFLI) Africa–Asia Summit, is currently being hosted in Dubai.
This summit became the platform for the announcement of the scholarship projects. The organization has shared that they will be working with 52 nations under their philanthropic wing.
The organization has shared that they will provide training to the medical professionals and help them improve their healthcare capacities.Chairman of the Merck Foundation Board of Trustees, Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp, spoke during the summit.
He highlighted the importance of healthcare especially specialisations in the development of Healthcare in the country. The chairman also acknowledged that some specialties are facing shortages of people especially in low and middle income nations.
He was proud to note that Merck Foundation has helped many doctors in the country with one and two year specialties programme. Many of these doctors are currently the first doctors in their countries in their preferred specialties.
Oncology, diabetes, sexual and reproductive medicine, gastroenterology, and internal medicine are some of the specialties which are not represented well.
According to WHO, Africa accounts for 24 percent of the global disease burden. However , they provide only 3 percent of the world’s health workforce which is why the support to healthcare systems is extremely important.
The announcement was made on Wednesday during the 7th edition of the Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative (MFFLI) Africa–Asia Summit, currently taking place in Dubai. As the philanthropic wing of Merck KGaA, Germany, the Foundation is collaborating with 52 countries to enhance healthcare systems by offering specialised training to medical professionals.
Girls in 17 African nations have so far received a total of 1,000 scholarships and educational materials from the organization. The Merck Foundation has pledged to continue their support for the healthcare sector of all Africa during the summit.