Merck Foundation Provides 71 Scholarships to Doctors From Mauritius

Mumbai: Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany in partnership with The Ministry of Health and Wellness, Mauritius, has underscored their commitment to build healthcare capacity through providing one year PG Diploma and two-year Master Degree in many critical and underserved specialities for doctors from Mauritius.

Merck Foundation calls for Application for 6 different awards for Media, Film, Fashion and Music fraternity in Mauritius.

Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany in partnership with The Ministry of Health and Wellness, Mauritius, has underscored their commitment to build healthcare capacity through providing one year PG Diploma and two-year Master Degree in many critical and underserved specialities for doctors from Mauritius.

Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation and President, Merck Foundation More Than a Mother explained, “I am very proud that in partnership with the Ministry of Health and Wellness of Mauritius, we have provided till today 71 scholarships of one-year diploma and two-years master degree in many critical and underserved specialties for young Mauritian doctors with the aim to transform the landscape of patient care in the country.”

32 Medical graduates have been enrolled in the fields of Oncology, Diabetes, Endocrinology, Acute Medicine, Respiratory Medicine, Preventive Cardiovascular Medicine, and Sexual & Reproductive Medicine. Another 39 medical graduates have been already selected to be enrolled in PG Diploma courses in many new underserved specialties including Emergency and Resuscitation Medicine, Gastroenterology, Laparoscopic Surgical Skills, Mental Health: Psychological Therapies, Orthopedic Trauma Science, Paediatric, Emergency Medicine, Advanced Surgical Practice, Dermatology, Neonatal Medicine, Pain Management, Psychiatry, Clinical Microbiology & infectious diseases, Ophthalmology, Internal Medicine, Neuroimaging for research, Urology, Orthopedics, Rheumatology, Cancer and Clinical Oncology, Critical Care, General Surgery, and Orthopedic & Trauma.

“We will continue launching other programs to raise awareness and build advocacy to support girl education and address health issues such as raising awareness about coronavirus through Media Training and Media Recognition Awards for Media representative in Mauritius,” added Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej.

Merck Foundation, through their Merck Foundation More Than a Mother Campaign, is also working to raise awareness about infertility prevention, male infertility and define interventions to break infertility stigma and support girl education in the country. Also, Merck Foundation has been raising awareness about coronavirus and how to keep safe and healthy during the global pandemic.

“We plan to soon conduct our Merck Foundation Health Media Training for the Mauritian journalists, to educate them, particularly the young journalists, on how to break the silence and be the voice of the voiceless in order to eliminate the stigma of infertility and emphasize the importance of girls’ education, through their day to day work.

Moreover, to underscore the important role that media, art, fashion, music, and film plays in raising awareness about sensitive and health issues such as promoting the best prevention practices during the second wave of coronavirus, Merck Foundation has launched 6 Awards. The Media Awards have been announced in partnership with Media Trust Board, Mauritius,” emphasized Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej.

Merck Foundation announced the following 6 awards:

1. Merck Foundation Africa Media Recognition Awards “More Than a Mother” in partnership with Media TrustBoard, Mauritius: Media representatives are invited to showcase their work to raise awareness about Infertility Prevention, Breaking Infertility stigma, and Empowering Girls and Women through Education.
Submission deadline: 30th August 2021. Click here to view more details.

2. Merck Foundation Film Awards “More Than a Mother” 2021: All African Filmmakers and Students are invited to create and share a FILM or a DOCUDRAMA to deliver strong and influential messages to break Infertility stigma, and /or Empowering Girls and Women through Education and at all levels.
Submission deadline: 30th August 2021. Click here to view more details.

3. Merck Foundation Fashion Awards “More Than a Mother” 2021: All African Fashion Students and Designers are invited to create and share designs to deliver strong and influential messages to raise awareness about Infertility Prevention, Breaking Infertility stigma, and/or Empowering Girls and Women through Education.
Submission deadline: 30th August 2021. Click here to view more details.

4. Merck Foundation Song Awards “More Than a Mother” 2021: All African Singers and Musical Artists are invited to create and share a SONG with the aim to Empower Girls and Women through Education and at all levels.
Submission deadline: 30th August 2021. Click here to view more details.

5. Merck Foundation “Mask Up With Care” Media Recognition Awards 2021 in partnership with Media TrustBoard, Mauritius: Media representatives are invited to showcase their work to raise awareness on how to adapt best protection measures such as wearing masks to show care and love towards family & community; to encourage the community to choose to vaccinate when it is available and to sensitize them to support healthcare workers who are at the forefront of COVID 19 pandemic.
Submission deadline: 30th September 2021. Click here to view more details.

6. Merck Foundation “Make Your Own Mask” Fashion Awards 2021: All African Fashion Designers and Students are invited to create and share designs of masks and other clothing items that carry messages to encourage people to wear masks to show they care and at the same time make it creative and fun!
Submission deadline: 30th September 2021. Click here to view more details.

Entries for all the awards to be submitted via email to [email protected]
About ‘Merck Foundation More Than a Mother’ campaign

“Merck Foundation More Than a Mother” is a strong movement that aims to empower infertile women through access to information, education and change of mind-sets. This powerful campaign supports governments in defining policies to enhance access to regulated, safe, effective and equitable fertility care solutions. It defines interventions to break the stigma around infertile women and raises awareness about infertility prevention, management and male infertility. In 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.

With “Merck Foundation More Than a Mother”, 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’s all about giving every woman the respect and the help she deserves to live a fulfilling life, with or without a child.

The Ambassadors of “Merck Foundation More Than a Mother” are:

H.E. NEO JANE MASISI,
The First Lady of Botswana
H.E. FATOUMATTA BAH-BARROW, The First Lady of The Gambia
H.E. MONICA GEINGOS, The First Lady of Namibia
H.E. SIKA KABORE, The First Lady of Burkina Faso
H.E. REBECCA AKUFO-ADDO, The First Lady of Ghana

H.E. AISHA BUHARI, The First Lady of Nigeria
H.E. ANGELINE NDAYISHIMIYE,
The First Lady of Burundi
H.E. CONDÉ DJENE, The First Lady of Guinea Conakry
H.E FATIMA MAADA BIO, The First Lady of Sierra Leone
H.E. BRIGITTE TOUADERA, The First Lady of Central African Republic
H.E. CLAR WEAH, The First Lady of Liberia
H.E. ESTHER LUNGU, The First Lady of Zambia
H.E. ANTOINETTE SASSOU-NGUESSO, The First Lady of Congo Brazzaville
H.E. MONICA CHAKWERA, The First Lady of Malawi
H.E. AUXILLIA MNANGAGWA, The First Lady of Zimbabwe
H.E. DENISE NYAKERU TSHISEKEDI, THE First Lady of Democratic Republic of Congo
H.E. ISAURA FERRÃO NYUSI, The First Lady of Mozambique

The Former First Lady of Burundi, H.E DENISE NKURUNZIZA, The Former First Lady of Chad, H.E. HINDA DÉBY ITNO, The Former First Lady of Malawi, H.E. PROFESSOR GERTRUDE MUTHARIKA and The Former First Lady of Niger, H.E AÏSSATA ISSOUFOU MAHAMADOU have worked successfully with Merck Foundation as Merck Foundation More Than a Mother Ambassadors to break the stigma of infertility and empower infertile women in their countries.

Merck Foundation launched new innovative initiatives to sensitize local communities about infertility prevention, male infertility with the aim to break the stigma of infertility and empowering infertile women as part of Merck Foundation More than a Mother COMMUNITY AWARENESS CAMPAIGN, such as;

‘Merck Foundation More than a Mother’ Africa Media Recognition Awards and Health Media Training
‘Merck Foundation More than a Mother’ Fashion Awards
‘Merck Foundation More than a Mother’ Film Awards
‘Merck Foundation More than a Mother’ Song Awards
Local songs with local artists to address the cultural perception of infertility and how to change it
Children storybook, localized for each country