Merck Foundation provides 140 oncology scholarships to doctors

African First Ladies, Ministries of Health and members of Merck Foundation observed World Cancer Day through building cancer care capacity and increasing the limited number of oncologists in their countries by providing more than 140 scholarships.

Merck Foundation will be making history in Africa by training the first African oncologists and first cancer care teams in countries such as The Gambia, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea Conakry, Central African Republic, Chad, Burundi, Malawi, Niger, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, among others.

Annually done, Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany, marked ‘World Cancer Day 2024’ under the theme ‘Close the care gap’ together with Africa’s First Ladies and Ministries of Health through their Cancer Access Program to build quality and equitable cancer care capacity in Africa with the aim to increase the limited number of oncologists and develop the first multidisciplinary cancer care teams across the continent.

Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation highlighted that they mark World Cancer Day with Africa’s First Ladies every day and every year through transforming and advancing cancer care in Africa and by enhancing professional capacity and improving access to high-quality and equitable cancer care throughout the continent.

“I am proud to share that Merck Foundation together with African First Ladies are successfully increasing the limited number of oncologists in Africa by providing 140 scholarships to young African doctor from 28 countries,” he declared.

Senator Dr Kelej went on to disclose that as per WHO data, every year, Africa records around 1.1 million new cases of cancer, resulting in up to 700,000 deaths.

He added that the mortality rate of cancer patients is very high in Africa, as compared to the rest of the world through their Cancer Access and Oncology Fellowship Programs.

Dr. Mahamat Saleh Mahamat Baldass, Merck Foundation Oncology Alumni from Chad said he is part of the first Chadian Medical Oncologists and has benefited from the one-year Oncology Fellowship training conducted at Tata Memorial Hospital in Mumbai, India, offered to him by Merck Foundation.

“Two of my colleagues have also benefited from the three-month hands-on training in Oncology Nursing and Onco-pathology. The training I received has helped me in treating cancer patients in my country who either had to travel abroad for treatment (often very expensive), or simply gave up the hope to live. I would like to extend my sincere thanks and appreciation to Merck Foundation for giving me this opportunity,” he said.