Merck Foundation, ARCS partner to build fertility care capacity, advocacy in Africa
AS part of Merck Foundation More than a Mother campaign to build fertility and reproductive tube care capacity, build advocacy to break the stigma of infertility, and raise awareness about infertility prevention and male infertility in Africa, Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck Kgaa, has announced their partnership with Lagosbased Africa Reproductive Care Society ( ARCS).
Chief Executive Officer ( CEO) of Merck Foundation, Dr. Rasha Kelej, said: “We are very happy to partner with an important and inclusive Society like Africa Reproductive Care Society with the aim not to only provide scientific and clinics training to African doctors and embryologists but to also build advocacy to break the stigma of infertility and raise awareness about infertility prevention, management and male infertility. We at Merck Foundation partnered with 20 African First Ladies, ministries of health, information, education, communication and genders, academia, media and art communities to achieve our goals to transform the landscape of fertility care in Africa, and we have achieved very important milestones. I believe with our new partnership with ARCS we will continue our efforts and address different aspects of this topic”.
President of ARCS, Prof. Oladapo Ashiru, said: “I am very happy to partner with Merck Foundation. Merck Foundation has been creating awareness and building fertility care capacity in Africa. It is very critical to create awareness around infertility prevention and management as around 85 per cent of infertility cases in Africa are caused by untreated infectious diseases, hence are preventable in many cases. I also thank Merck Foundation CEO, Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej for her energy, inspiration, and innovations. Together will do well for Africa.”
“I invite all fertility care experts & embryologists, media experts, fashion designers who are our Merck Foundation Alumni to join this society. Also, I invite policymakers, community leaders and members, singers and filmmakers to apply for the membership which is free and inclusive for all Africa,” Senator Kelej added.