The 11th Merck Foundation Africa-Asia Luminary Summit convened in Tanzania, bringing together First Ladies from over 15 African and Asian countries to address pressing healthcare issues.
Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan inaugurated the summit, emphasizing the importance of healthcare investment, girls’ education, and clean cooking solutions as key strategies for gender-responsive health improvements.
She highlighted the country’s strides in expanding healthcare access, with a significant reduction in maternal and child mortality rates.
However, she acknowledged the critical shortage of specialized healthcare professionals, a gap that Merck Foundation has been working to fill through specialized training programs.
Education, particularly for girls, was another focal point of the summit. President Samia underscored the transformative power of education for women’s empowerment.
The First Ladies used the platform to exchange strategies for advancing healthcare and education, as well as eliminating the stigma surrounding infertility.
Merck Foundation’s Board of Trustees Chairman, Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp, discussed the shortage of healthcare professionals in Africa and the Foundation’s role in providing specialized training to doctors across the continent.
First Ladies from Zimbabwe, Kenya, and the Maldives shared their experiences and insights, highlighting the impact of Merck Foundation’s initiatives in their respective countries.
They emphasized the need for continued support in areas such as cancer care, fertility treatment, and food security in schools.
The two-day summit aims to foster lasting solutions for a healthier future in Africa and Asia by bringing together ministers, policymakers, health experts, and journalists from over 70 countries.