The conference was chaired by Senator Dr. RashaKelej, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Merck Foundation and chairperson of Merck Foundation Africa-Asia Luminary.
The conference aimed at contributing to social and economic development in Africa and Asia.
It also created a forum for health care providers, researchers, policy makers, health media and other stakeholders to open dialogue and exchange experiences, challenges and solutions of their training programs under the Merck Foundation initiative.
The Gambia’s First Lady, Her Excellency Fatoumatta Bah-Barrow who addressed the gathering stated policies and impacts of partnership between Merck Foundation and her foundations towards building health care capacity and support to girls’ empowerment and education in The Gambia.
Madam Bah-Barrow informed the gathering that since the inception of the partnership between her organisation and the Merck Foundation in 2018, significant progresses have been made towards improving health care delivery in The Gambia. They have addressed different forms of cultural related stigma and discrimination on infertility, gender based violence, among others.
She said they collaborated with Merck Foundation to help address some of the health and special challenges in The Gambia, adding that together they have launched along-term partnership to build health care capacity for the next 10 years.
“I am happy to report that since the start of the partnership, through my office and my foundation in partnership with the Ministry of Health we have provided more than 60 scholarships to health care professionals,” she stated.
She called for more comprehensive partnerships and collaborations to the fight against cervical and other forms of cancer, which she said continue to cause millions of deaths among African women.
Senator Dr. RashaKelej, Chief Executive Officer of Merck Foundation assured partners of the Foundation’s unreserved commitment to support their endeavors in changing the narrative.
