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Merck Foundation (<\/strong>www.Merck-Foundation.com<\/strong><\/a>)<\/strong>, the philanthropic arm\u00a0of Merck KGaA Germany conducted their Annual Kenya Alumni Summit<\/strong> in Nairobi to discuss their programs with their partners and beneficiaries to transform patient care landscape in Kenya through building healthcare capacity, raising awareness about sensitive social and health issues; and to meet the Merck Foundation Alumni and Media Winners. This Annual Summit was co-chaired by Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg Haverkamp<\/strong>,\u00a0Chairman of both Executive Board of E.Merck KG<\/em><\/strong> & Merck Foundation Board of Trustees<\/strong><\/em> and Senator,<\/strong> Dr. Rasha Kelej<\/strong>, CEO of Merck Foundation.<\/strong>\u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp <\/strong>during his Keynote address said, <\/strong>\u201cAt Merck Foundation, our goal is improving overall health and well-being by building healthcare capacity, by providing access to quality and equitable healthcare solutions in the African continent and beyond. We at Merck Foundation are committed to transform the patient care landscape not only in Kenya, but also across the entire African continent. Therefore, to fulfil this commitment 1300 scholarships have been provided to young doctors from 45 countries in 32 critical and underserved specialties.\u201d \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation <\/strong>emphasized, \u201cFirstly, I am very happy to meet the Merck Foundation Alumni and Media Awards Winners in person for the first time after the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. I am very proud of the work we are doing to transform public healthcare in Kenya. We have provided 118<\/strong> scholarships in Kenya in critical specialties such as \u2013 Oncology, Embryology, Diabetes, Preventative Cardiovascular Medicine, Endocrinology, Sexual and Reproductive Medicine, Gastroenterology, Respiratory Medicine, Acute Medicine, Biotechnology of Human Assisted Reproduction and Embryology, Critical Care, Psychiatry, Internal Medicine, Urology and many more<\/strong>. We will continue to scale up these numbers in order to create a stronger platform of skilled medical professionals and strengthen the public healthcare system in Kenya and rest of Africa.\u201d \u00a0<\/p>\n Merck Foundation conducted their Alumni Summit <\/strong>to meet the doctors who have completed or are undergoing the scholarships provided by Merck Foundation.<\/p>\n Along with the Merck Foundation Alumni Summit, Merck Foundation conducted their Award Ceremony to recognize the winners of the Merck Foundation media recognition Awards. <\/strong><\/p>\n The following winners were recognized:<\/strong><\/p>\n Merck Foundation “More Than a Mother” Media Recognition Awards 2019<\/strong><\/p>\n Merck Foundation “More Than a Mother” Media Recognition Awards 2020<\/strong><\/p>\n Merck Foundation “Stay at Home” Media Recognition Awards 2020<\/strong><\/p>\n Merck Foundation “More Than a Mother” Media Recognition Awards 2021<\/strong><\/p>\n Merck Foundation “Mask Up with Care” Media Recognition Awards 2021<\/strong><\/p>\n Merck Foundation “More Than a Mother” SONG Awards 2021<\/strong><\/p>\n Merck Foundation Health Media Training was also conducted for the Award Winners, to emphasize on the important role that media plays to influence society to create a cultural shift with the aim to address wide range of social and health issues such as: Breaking Infertility Stigma, Supporting Girl Education, Women Empowerment, Ending Child Marriage, Ending FGM, and\/ or Stopping GBV at all levels; to underscore the importance of Empowering Girls and Women in Education and to understand the Influence of infertility stigma and other social issues like GBV, Child Marriage, FGM etc. on women and couples – Social and Psychological Impact. Apart from this, the Media Training also included a session on the importance of increasing the awareness of early detection and prevention of Diabetes and Hypertension. The training session was addressed by Medical Experts, the Merck Foundation Alumni from Kenya.<\/p>\n Moreover, Merck Foundation CEO<\/strong> announced the Call for Applications<\/strong> for their 8 important awards for Media, Musicians, Fashion Designers, Filmmakers, students, and new potential talents in these fields.<\/p>\n The award announced are:<\/p>\n Entries for the above awards can be submitted to us at:\u00a0<\/strong>submit@merck-foundation.com<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n For information on the above awards, please visit our website:\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>www.Merck-Foundation.com<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Merck Foundation.<\/i><\/p>\n More images:\u00a0<\/strong>https:\/\/bit.ly\/3TMiPXE<\/a><\/p>\n Media contact:<\/strong> Join the conversation on our social media platforms below and let your voice be heard:<\/strong> About \u2018Merck Foundation More Than a Mother\u2019 campaign:<\/strong> With \u201cMerck Foundation More Than a Mother\u201d, we have initiated a cultural shift to de-stigmatize infertility at all levels: By improving awareness, training local experts in the fields of fertility care and media, building advocacy in cooperation with African First Ladies and women leaders and by supporting childless women in starting their own small businesses. It\u2019s all about giving every woman the respect and the help she deserves to live a fulfilling life, with or without a child.\u00a0<\/p>\n The Ambassadors of \u201cMerck Foundation More Than a Mother\u201d are:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n
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\nMehak Handa\u00a0
\nCommunity Awareness Program Manager\u00a0
\n+91\u00a09310087613\/ +91 9319606669\u00a0\u00a0
\nmehak.handa@external.merckgroup.com<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n
\nFacebook:\u00a0bit.ly\/3vKE8O2<\/a>
\nTwitter:\u00a0bit.ly\/2TeOQNj<\/a>
\nYouTube:\u00a0bit.ly\/3zc3up1<\/a>
\nInstagram:\u00a0bit.ly\/3g6OYr3<\/a>
\nFlicker:\u00a0bit.ly\/2Tay0Pu<\/a>
\nWebsite:\u00a0Merck-Foundation.com<\/a>
\nDownload the Merck Foundation App:\u00a0bit.ly\/3v7pf5Z<\/a><\/p>\n
\n\u201cMerck Foundation More Than a Mother\u201d is a strong movement that aims to empower infertile women through access to information, education and change of mind-set. This powerful campaign supports in defining policies and interventions to build quality and equitable Reproductive and Fertility Care Capacity, Break Infertility Stigma and Raise Awareness about Infertility Prevention and Male Infertility.\u00a0In partnership with African First Ladies, Ministries of Health, Information, Education & Gender, academia, policymakers, International fertility societies, media and art, the initiative also provides training for Fertility Specialists and Embryologists to build and advance fertility care capacity in Africa and developing countries.<\/p>\n