DUBAI: Merck Foundation Chairman, CEO, and 14 First Ladies have inaugurated the 7th Edition of the Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative (MFFLI) Summit. The event, held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, was conducted by the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany on the 19th and 20th of June 2025. The summit was inaugurated by Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp, Chairman of the Merck Foundation Board of Trustees, and Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation and President of Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative, alongside First Ladies from 14 African and Asian countries who participated as Guests of Honor and Keynote Speakers.
According to African Press Organization, Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej highlighted the significance of welcoming the First Ladies of Africa and Asia, who also serve as Ambassadors of the “More Than a Mother” campaign. The summit provided a platform to exchange experiences and engage in discussions focused on transforming patient care and addressing various social and health issues. Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp emphasized the foundation’s commitment to improving health and well-being by enhancing healthcare capacity and providing access to quality healthcare solutions across Africa, Asia, and beyond.
The First Ladies attending the summit included representatives from Angola, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Maldives, Mozambique, Nigeria, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, and Zimbabwe. They are also Ambassadors of the Merck Foundation More Than a Mother initiative. Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej expressed pride in the foundation’s achievements, including providing over 2,500 scholarships to young doctors from 52 countries in critical and underserved specialties. Many of these doctors have become pioneers in their fields within their respective countries.
The summit also marked the World Infertility Awareness Month, with the Merck Foundation More Than a Mother campaign aiming to empower infertile and childless women by improving access to information and education. Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej noted that over 700 scholarships have been awarded for training in fertility and related specialties to enhance access to care.
During the two-day event, the foundation celebrated its 8th anniversary and 13 years of development programs initiated in 2012. The first day featured a plenary session with First Ladies and a high-level ministerial panel discussion involving African Ministers and global healthcare experts. The second day included medical and scientific sessions on oncology and fertility, as well as a community awareness session on the role of media in influencing communities on social and health issues.
The conference was conducted in a hybrid format, allowing over 6,000 participants from more than 70 countries to engage and discuss strategies for health and social challenges. The Merck Foundation’s initiatives are part of a broader effort to address social and health issues in underserved communities, including media training, award programs, and cultural projects.
The event’s proceedings were streamed live on the Merck Foundation’s and Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej’s social media platforms. Merck Foundation continues to expand its impact, focusing on healthcare capacity building, social awareness, and cultural change across Africa and underserved communities.