The Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA, Germany, convened the 7th Edition of the Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative (MFFLI) Summit 2025 in Dubai, bringing together First Ladies from 14 African and Asian nations to collaborate on healthcare advancement and social transformation.
The summit was inaugurated by Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp, Chairman of the Merck Foundation Board of Trustees, and Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation and President of MFFLI. Together, they welcomed an influential gathering of First Ladies, who joined as Guests of Honor and Keynote Speakers.
The attending dignitaries included:
- H.E. Dr. Ana Dias Lourenço (Angola)
- H.E. Dr. Débora Katisa Carvalho (Cabo Verde)
- H.E. Madam Brigitte Touadera (Central African Republic)
- H.E. Madam Zita Oligui Nguema (Gabon)
- H.E. Mrs. Fatoumatta Bah-Barrow (The Gambia)
- H.E. Mrs. Lordina Dramani Mahama (Ghana)
- H.E. Mrs. Rachel Ruto (Kenya)
- H.E. Mrs. Kartumu Yarta Boakai (Liberia)
- H.E. Mrs. Sajidha Mohamed (Maldives)
- H.E. Dr. Gueta Selemane Chapo (Mozambique)
- H.E. Senator Oluremi Tinubu (Nigeria)
- H.E. Mrs. Maria de Fatima Vila Nova (São Tomé and Príncipe)
- H.E. Madam Marie Khone Faye (Senegal)
- H.E. Amai Dr. Auxillia Mnangagwa (Zimbabwe)
The summit served as a platform for sharing experiences, best practices, and developing strategies to address critical health and social challenges, particularly in underserved communities across Africa and Asia.
Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej emphasized the importance of the initiative:
“It is my great honour to welcome our esteemed First Ladies, our Ambassadors of ‘Merck Foundation More Than a Mother.’ We are working to transform healthcare and address social barriers. To date, we have awarded over 2,270 scholarships to young doctors from 52 countries in 44 medical specialties, many becoming the first in their field.”
These scholarships, part of Merck Foundation’s flagship programmes, aim to strengthen healthcare systems by building a strong base of specialists in fields such as oncology, endocrinology, fertility, and more, often for the first time in recipient countries.
The event also highlighted the impact of the “More Than a Mother” campaign, which combats the stigma surrounding infertility and promotes women’s health and empowerment.
The summit is part of Merck Foundation’s broader commitment to sustainable development, education, and equitable healthcare access, reinforcing its role as a catalyst for transformation across the Global South.
The live stream of the summit can be viewed here: Watch on Facebook
For more on the Foundation’s work, visit: www.merck-foundation.com
