AFRICA – Africa Reproductive Care society (ARCS) has championed for fertility care and women’s healthcare capacity building in partnership with Merck Foundation.
The Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany, focuses on improving access to quality healthcare solutions in underserved communities as well as building healthcare and scientific research capacity.
“Merck Foundation More Than a Mother” is a strong movement that aims to empower infertile women through access to information, education and change of mind-sets.
This campaign supports governments in defining policies to enhance access to regulated, effective and equitable fertility care solutions.
Merck Foundation and the Africa Reproductive Care society conducted their first Joint Annual Summit 2022 co-chaired by Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation, Chairperson of African Reproductive Care Society and President of “More Than a Mother” Campaign.
Ministers of Health, Child Care, Gender, Social Welfare and Population from various African Countries attended the meeting as well as Merck Foundation partners and Alumni from 47 countries in Africa and beyond.
ARCS Chairperson Dr. Rasha Kelej revealed that the joint summit was conducted under the umbrella of Merck Foundation’s “More Than a Mother” Campaign to raise awareness and build fertility and reproductive care capacity in Africa.
The campaign supports defining policies and interventions to build quality and equitable Reproductive and Fertility care capacity, Break Infertility Stigma and raise awareness about infertility prevention and male infertility.
“Merck Foundation has provided more than 370 scholarships to doctors from 37 countries with the aim to advance women’s health by building Reproductive & Sexual care and Fertility Care Capacity in Africa and beyond,” Dr. Rasha Kelej stated.
Moreover, the foundation has trained more than 2000 media representatives from more than 30 countries to raise community awareness, creating a culture shift and breaking the stigma around infertility and infertile and childless women.
She said the summit was an effort towards initiating a multi-sectorial approach to sensitize communities to end Infertility stigma and empower infertile women and couples through access to information, education, health and change of mindset.
The meeting presented an opportunity to discuss challenges and define solutions to improve access to quality and equitable Infertility care through building Fertility care capacity in Africa and developing countries.
Additionally, ARCS offered free membership for all Merck Foundation Alumni and partners including healthcare providers, Media, Artists, Policy Makers, Medical Societies, Academia and Community Leaders and members who attended the annual summit online.
The move is meant to emphasize their important role in creating a culture shift to break Infertility Stigma and Empower Infertile and Childless Women & Couples through access to information, education, health and change of mindset.
It will also improve access to quality and equitable women healthcare and better reproductive and fertility care across the continent.
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