Merck Foundation to empower infertile Nigerian women
Merck Foundation has partnered the Wife of the President, Hajiya Aisha Buhari on empowering women suffering from infertility in the country.
The Merck Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany, and aims to improve the health and wellbeing of people, as well as advance their lives through science and technology.
Chief Executive Officer of the foundation, Dr. Rasha Kelej, said the foundation has been empowering infertile women across Africa and has commenced work on breaking infertility stigma and building equitable and quality healthcare in Nigeria.
Dr. Kelej, said the foundation through its campaign tagged ‘Merck More Than a Mother campaign’ has supported 100 infertile women across the country to establish small businesses to enable them rebuild and lead independent and happier lives.
The foundation has also trained embryologists to develop a platform of local experts in fertility care, and also provided two Nigerian doctors with one-year diabetes and hypertension post graduate Diploma from University of South Wales, United Kingdom.
She said: “We are fully committed to providing specialty training in the fields of cancer, fertility and diabetes care to more doctors across Nigeria after the official launch.”
The foundation has provided clinical training to candidates from Africa and Asia to establish a platform of Fertility specialists and Embryologists. “The number of Merck Foundation Alumni in this field is more than 185 candidates from more than 35 countries across Africa and Asia,” Dr. Kelej said in a statement.
Dr. Kelej said the foundation has also partnered the first ladies of 18 African countries under the Merck More Than a Mother Campaign to lead and execute the initiatives in their respective countries as ‘Merck More Than a Mother Ambassadors’
She said the foundation has supported the establishment of the first ever Public IVF centers in Rwanda, Ethiopia and Uganda by training their staff to support infertile couples in their homeland for the first time.
She said that local singers, filmmakers, media partners and fashion designers were utilised to raise awareness to break the stigma of infertility. “These initiatives are very important for Nigeria since it is the hub of art and fashion. I cannot wait to explore these beautiful talents and work closely with them to sensitise our communities that women are more than just mothers and men are more than just fathers. Also, it takes both a man and a woman to have a child,” she added.