African First Ladies highlight healthcare, education gains at Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary
African and Asian First Ladies have called for continued investment in healthcare systems, girls’ education and social empowerment, highlighting the role of strategic partnerships in improving lives across underserved communities.
The call was made during the 13th edition of the Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary, where First Ladies from across the two continents shared progress achieved through collaborations with the foundation in healthcare capacity building, education support and social awareness programmes.
The virtual gathering brought together First Ladies, healthcare leaders, policymakers, development partners and media representatives to reflect on the impact of programmes implemented through the Merck Foundation, which is marking nine years of operation and 14 years of development initiatives.
The leaders highlighted medical scholarship programmes, the Educating Linda initiative for vulnerable girls, and the More Than a Mother campaign as key interventions supporting communities and addressing critical social challenges.
Kenya’s First Lady, Rachel Ruto, said every child is born with potential, but opportunities are often determined by circumstances such as access to healthcare and education.
She said partnerships that invest in people are essential to ensuring that talent is not limited by poverty or lack of opportunity.
Through its collaboration with the Merck Foundation, Kenya has supported hundreds of healthcare professionals through specialised medical scholarships aimed at strengthening expertise in critical areas.
“Every scholarship represents a life that will be touched. Every trained healthcare worker represents a community that will be healthier,” Ruto said.
She also praised the Educating Linda programme, which supports girls from vulnerable backgrounds to remain in school, describing investment in girls’ education as an investment in future leaders, professionals and community builders.
Liberia’s First Lady, Kumu Yatta Bakai, stressed the importance of addressing infertility stigma and ensuring that women facing reproductive health challenges are treated with dignity and compassion.
She said the More Than a Mother campaign has helped challenge harmful perceptions around infertility by promoting awareness, science and social support.
Liberia has benefited from healthcare scholarships in specialised areas including fertility, embryology, oncology, diabetes care and women’s health, helping to expand access to specialised services within the country.
The First Lady of The Gambia, Fatoumatta Bah-Barrow, highlighted the country’s partnership with Merck Foundation, noting that healthcare professionals have received specialised training in areas including oncology, fertility care, reproductive medicine and diabetes management.
She said the partnership has also supported girls’ education and community awareness initiatives addressing issues such as child marriage, gender-based violence, female genital mutilation and non-communicable diseases.
Botswana’s First Lady, Kaone Boko, who participated in the Luminary for the first time, highlighted her country’s collaboration with Merck Foundation in improving healthcare and promoting inclusive education.
She said Botswana has benefited from healthcare scholarships in fields including oncology, diabetes, acute medicine and reproductive care.
She also welcomed support aimed at strengthening services for children with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including improving assessment systems and building capacity among educators.
Across the discussions, the First Ladies emphasised that sustainable development requires more than infrastructure and policies; it requires investment in people, skills and opportunities.
They also recognised the importance of using education materials, media engagement, films, storybooks and public awareness campaigns to encourage healthier behaviours and challenge harmful social practices.
Merck Foundation CEO Senator Dr Rasha Kelej thanked the participating First Ladies for their commitment and said the foundation would continue working with governments and partners to expand access to healthcare training and education opportunities.
She said the strong participation of leaders from Africa and Asia demonstrated the importance of collaboration in addressing shared challenges.
Professor Dr Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp, Chairman of the Merck Foundation Board of Trustees, reaffirmed the foundation’s commitment to supporting countries through capacity building and programmes designed to improve the wellbeing of communities.
The Luminary concluded with renewed commitments from participating countries to strengthen partnerships in healthcare, education and social development, with leaders agreeing that investing in people remains central to creating healthier and more inclusive societies.
