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Merck Foundation (www.Merck-Foundation.com<\/a>), the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany has raced to respond to the Coronavirus pandemic in partnership with 18 African First Ladies, Ministries of Health, Information and Education<\/strong> focusing on four main areas: \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Merck Foundation has partnered with the African First Ladies of Liberia, Ghana, DR Congo, Zimbabwe, Niger, Sierra Leone, Malawi and Burkina Faso to support livelihood of thousands of women and families of casual and daily workers who are most affected by the Coronavirus (COVID -19) lockdown. The relief contribution was also undertaken in Egypt with the aim to support 500 families.<\/p>\n Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation<\/strong> explained, \u201cLockdown imposed in most countries has hit the daily workers and women the most, making it very difficult for them to survive. Therefore, Merck Foundation decided to partner with the African First Ladies to support up to 1000 women and casual workers families in each country, with the aim to save their livelihood as part of \u201cSeparated but Connected\u201d Merck Foundation Initiative\u201d.<\/p>\n Speaking of women being impacted by the lockdown, Dr. Rasha Kelej<\/strong> explained, \u201cI am sad to know that the pandemic has led to a horrifying increase in violence against women. The confinement at home with an abusive partner has resulted in not only physical violence but also emotional violence against women which can have disastrous consequences for their health and well-being. Therefore, we decided to focus on supporting women in our coronavirus community intervention and strongly continue empowering infertile and childless women as part of our signature campaign \u2018Merck More than a Mother\u2019. We know they now need our support more than ever.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe strongly believe that building professional healthcare capacity is the right strategy to improve access to quality and equitable healthcare specially during this vicious pandemic.\u201d Dr. Kelej<\/strong> added.<\/p>\n Therefore, Merck Foundation will strongly continue their current capacity advancement programs and will specially focus on building Coronavirus healthcare capacity through providing African and Asian medical postgraduates with one-year online diploma and two-year online Master degree in both of Respiratory Medicines and Acute Medicines at one of the UK Universities. This program is in partnership with African First Ladies, Ministers of Health and Academia across the two continents.<\/p>\n As part of their strategy of responding to coronavirus lockdown, Merck Foundation scaled up\u00a0to more African and Asian medical postgraduates to provide online medical specialization scholarships.<\/p>\n During this lockdown, Merck Foundation will focus more on these online scholarships which will be for one-year diploma and two year master degree in several specialties such as: Diabetes, Cardiovascular Preventive Medicines, Endocrinology and Sexual and Reproductive Medicines.<\/p>\n To apply for these scholarships, please email us on: submit@merck-foundation.com<\/p>\n Merck Foundation has also launched \u2018Stay at Home\u2019 Media Recognition Awards in partnership with African First Ladies of African First Ladies of Ghana, Nigeria, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Malawi, Namibia, Niger, Guinea Conakry, Burundi, Central African Republic (C.A.R.), Chad, Zimbabwe, Zambia, The Gambia, Liberia and Congo Brazzaville, Angola, Mali, Mozambique for English, French, Portuguese and Arabic Speaking African countries. The awards have been also announced for Middle Eastern, Asian countries and in Spanish for Latin American Countries. The theme of the awards is \u2018Raising Awareness on how to Stay Safe and Keep Physically and Mentally Healthy during Coronavirus Lockdown with the aim to separate facts from myths and misconceptions\u2019 to apply for these awards email: submit@merck-foundation.com<\/p>\n Dr. Rasha Kelej emphasized, \u201cWe strongly believe that media plays a critical role in raising awareness about sensitive and pressing issues such as Coronavirus. I am looking forward to receive the creative and informative work of our winners so that they become Merck Foundation health champions in their countries.\u201d<\/p>\n Merck Foundation has also launched an inspiring storybook called \u2018Making the Right Choice\u2019 in partnership with 18 African First Ladies. The story aims to raise awareness about coronavirus prevention amongst children and youth as it provides facts about the pandemic and how to stay safe and healthy during the outbreak. It also promotes honesty, hard-work and the ability to make the right choices even during the most challenging times. The story released in three languages: English, French and Portuguese. To read the storybook please click on below links:<\/p>\n English: <\/strong>https:\/\/bit.ly\/2AVELf6 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Merck Foundation.<\/i><\/p>\n Join the conversation on our social media platforms below and let your voice be heard:<\/strong> About Merck Oncology Fellowship and Master Degree Program:<\/strong> Launched in 2016, over 80 candidates from more than 26 African countries have been enrolled in the Merck Oncology Fellowship Program. The program will continue to build cancer care capability in African countries such as Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, CAR, Chad,\u00a0Congo Brazzaville, DRC,\u00a0Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Mauritius, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia & Zimbabwe.<\/p>\n About Merck Fertility & Embryology Training Program:<\/strong> Through this program, Merck Foundation is making history in many African and Asian countries where they never had fertility specialists or specialized fertility clinics before \u2018Merck More Than a Mother\u2019 intervention, to train the first fertility specialists such as; in Sierra Leone, Liberia, The Gambia, Niger, Chad, Guinea, Ethiopia, Myanmar and Uganda.\u00a0So far,\u00a0Merck Foundation has provided for more than 180+ candidates, clinical and practical training for fertility specialists and embryologists in more than 35 countries across Africa and Asia\u00a0such as: Bangladesh, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Chad, CAR, Cote D’IVOIRE, DRC, Congo Brazzaville, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Malaysia, Liberia, Mali, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Niger, Philippines, Russia, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, The Gambia, Togo, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia & Zimbabwe.<\/p>\n About Merck Diabetes Blue Points Project:<\/strong> About Merck Foundation:<\/strong> About Merck:<\/strong> Founded in 1668, Merck is the world’s oldest pharmaceutical and chemical company. The founding family remains the majority owner of the publicly listed corporate group. Merck holds the global rights to the Merck name and brand. The only exceptions are the United States and Canada, where the company operates as EMD Serono, MilliporeSigma.<\/p>\n\n
\nFrench: <\/strong>https:\/\/bit.ly\/3h3WEsF
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\nA part of Merck Cancer Access, the program focuses on building professional cancer care capacity with the aim to increase the limited number of Oncologists in Africa. Oncology Fellowship Program of one year, one and half years, two years in India, Malaysia, Kenya and Master Degree in Medical Oncology for three years in Egypt in partnership with African Ministries of Health, Local Governments and Academia.<\/p>\n
\nMerck Fertility & Embryology Training Program\u00a0was launched in 2016 as part of Merck More Than a Mother. Under this program, Merck Foundation has been providing hands-on practical training to candidates from Africa and Asia, in partnership with the Indonesian Reproductive Science Institute (IRSI), Indonesia; International Institute for Training and Research in Reproductive Health (IIRRH), India; Manipal Academy\u00a0of Higher Education (MAHE), India and Indira IVF Hospitals, India.<\/p>\n
\nMerck Diabetes Blue Points Project in partnership with African First Ladies, Ministries of Health and Academia to help improve access to equitable and quality diabetes care nationwide in African countries. Candidates from different provinces, countries or districts of the respective countries are provided with one-year Online Postgraduate Diabetes Diploma in English for English Speaking countries, or an Online Mastercourse on Clinical Management of Diabetes in French and Portuguese for 3 months duration, for French and Portuguese speaking countries respectively, ensuring geographical coverage of the whole country to help improve the landscape of diabetes care in Africa.<\/p>\n
\nThe Merck Foundation (www.Merck-Foundation.com), established in 2017, is the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany, aims to improve the health and wellbeing of people and advance their lives through science and technology. Our efforts are primarily focused on improving access to quality & equitable healthcare solutions in underserved communities, building healthcare and scientific research capacity and empowering people in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) with a special focus on women and youth. All Merck Foundation press releases are distributed by e-mail at the same time they become available on the Merck Foundation Website.\u00a0 Please visit www.Merck-Foundation.com to read more. To know more, reach out to our social media: Merck Foundation<\/a>\u00a0(www.Merck-Foundation.com);\u00a0Facebook<\/a>\u00a0(bit.ly\/347DsTd<\/a>),\u00a0Twitter<\/a>\u00a0(bit.ly\/2REHwaK<\/a>),\u00a0Instagram<\/a>\u00a0(bit.ly\/2t3E0fX<\/a>),\u00a0YouTube<\/a>\u00a0(bit.ly\/2E05GVg<\/a>) and\u00a0Flicker<\/a>\u00a0(bit.ly\/2RJjWtH<\/a>)<\/p>\n
\nMerck (www.MerckGroup.com) is a leading science and technology company in healthcare, life science and performance materials. Almost 52,000 employees work to further develop technologies that improve and enhance life \u2013 from biopharmaceutical therapies to treat cancer or multiple sclerosis, cutting-edge systems for scientific research and production, to liquid crystals for smartphones and LCD televisions.<\/p>\n