Merck Foundation trains 182 embryologists, fertility specialists across Africa and Asia
Merck Foundation trains 182 embryologists, fertility specialists across Africa and Asia
By Our Reporter
Merck Foundation marked the World Artificial Reproductive Technology (ART) Day 2020 through providing long term hands-on embryology training and clinical fertility specialists training to develop local Embryologists and fertility specialists to improve access to quality and cost-effective fertility care in Africa and Asia.
Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation, President of Merck More than a Mother underscored the critical role of embryologists and fertility specialists in empowering infertile women through improving their access to information, change of mindset and quality and equitable fertility care.
Kelej lauded the ‘Merck More Than A Mother’ campaign in partnership with African First Ladies, Ministries of Health, Academia and Fertility Societies that provided hands-on long term embryology training and clinical fertility specialists to develop more than 182 local embryologists and fertility experts from 35 countries.
The trainees were drawn from The Gambia, Burundi, Guinea, Niger, Chad, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Sierra Leone,
Zambia, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia and Liberia. “Together with you, Merck Foundation Alumni and our partners, we are making history and reshaping the landscape of fertility care,” said Dr. Kelej.
Merck Foundation will also provide online one-year Diploma and two-year Masters Degree in Sexual and Reproductive Medicines from UK Universities to more than 80 doctors from Africa and Asia to contribute to our mission to break the stigma around Infertility and reshape the landscape of fertility care in the global south.
African First Ladies of 18 Countries are working closely with Merck Foundation as ambassadors of Merck more than a Mother including Zimbabwe, Zambia, Sierra Leone, Niger, Namibia, Mozambique, Liberia, Guinea Conakry, The Gambia, DR Congo, Congo Brazzaville, Chad, CAR, Botswana and Burundi (former First Lady) and Malawi (Former
First Lady). “The African First Ladies have partnered with Merck Foundation to lead and execute many initiatives in their respective countries as Merck More Than a Mother Ambassadors to empower infertile women and break the stigma around infertility.
Merck hands-on Embryology and Fertility specialists Training program is an ongoing initiative and Merck Foundation will continue to train more doctors and embryologist in more African, Asian and developing countries.