Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej
BY MUNYARADZI BLESSING DOMA
Merck Foundation in partnership with African First Ladies and Ministries of Health and medical societies, have provided more than 760 scholarships to doctors from 52 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
The scholarships are for one year Post-Graduate Diploma and two-year Master Degree in Preventative Cardiovascular Medicine, Diabetes, Endocrinology and Obesity and Weight Management.
The scholarships are part of the total 1 810 which Merck Foundation has provided to doctors from 52 countries in 42 critical and underserved medical specialties such as Oncology, Sexual and Reproductive Care, Acute Medicine, Respiratory Medicine, Embryology and Fertility specialty, Gastroenterology, Dermatology, Psychiatry, Emergency and Resuscitation Medicine, Critical Care, Paediatric Emergency Medicine, Neonatal Medicine, Advanced Surgical Practice, Pain Management, General Surgery, Clinical Microbiology and infectious diseases, Internal Medicine, Trauma and Orthopaedics and many more.
The philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany, had marked the ‘World Hypertension Day 2024’ together with Africa’s First Ladies, Ministries of Health, Medical Societies and Academia, through their “Nationwide Diabetes and Hypertension Blue Points Program” by providing scholarships for young doctors to transform the patient care landscape in the fields of Hypertension, Cardiology, Diabetes and Endocrinology, and by raising awareness in communities in Africa and beyond.
Merck Foundation Chief Executive Officer Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, said, “at Merck Foundation we mark “World Hypertension Day”, by improving access to quality and equitable Hypertension, Diabetes and Cardiovascular preventive care, which are all co-related, in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
“Together with our Ambassadors – The First Ladies of Africa, and partners like Ministries of Health, Medical Societies and Academia, we have till today provided more than 760 scholarships to doctors from 52 countries, of One-year PG Diploma and Two-year Master degree in Preventive Cardiovascular, Diabetes, Endocrinology and Obesity & Weight Management, and also a special 3 month Diabetes Master course in English, French, Portuguese and Spanish.
“These scholarships have been provided to the young doctors to form a strong platform of experts nationwide, and not only from capitals or big cities.”
Senator, Dr. Kelej further added, “we recently launched new Fellowship Programs of one-year Clinical Cardiovascular care and one-year Clinical Diabetes, onsite training programs in India for African doctors.
“These programs will help us to further improve cardiovascular, Hypertension and Diabetes care in Africa and other developing countries.”
Doctor Victoria Mumbo, Merck Foundation alumnus from Kenya said; “I have completed the post-graduate degree in Preventative Cardiovascular Medicine, provided by Merck Foundation. I would like to extend my gratitude to Merck Foundation for this life changing opportunity. After the completion of this course, my approach towards patient management has changed. It has helped me to also educate the community about the importance of leading a healthy lifestyle.”
