By Kuda Pembere
With African countries having fewer specialist doctors in hypertension, cardiology and endocrinology, the partnership between Africa’s first ladies, the Ministries of Health, medical societies as well as the academia and the Merck Foundation under the “Nationwide Diabetes and Hypertension Blue Point program” banner have given over 750 scholarships to young doctors.
The young doctors will be practicing specialties namely Hypertension, Cardiology, Diabetes and Endocrinology.
This Merck Foundation said this in a statement to commemorate World Hypertension Day.
“At Merck Foundation we mark “World Hypertension Day” by improving access to quality and equitable Hypertension, Diabetes and Cardiovascular preventive care, which are all co-related, in Africa, Asia & Latin America,” said Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation. “We recently launched new Fellowship Programs of One-year Clinical Cardiovascular care and One-year Clinical Diabetes, onsite training programs in India for African doctors. These programs will help us to to futher improve cardiovascular, Hypertension and Diabetes care in Africa and other developing countries.”
Dr Kelej said the scholarships provided to students from 52 countries include a post-graduate diploma for one year and a two year long Masters’ degree.
“Together with our Ambassadors – The First Ladies of Africa, and partners like Ministries of Health, Medical Societies and Academia, we have till today provided more than 750 scholarships to doctors from 52 countries, of One-year PG Diploma and Two-year Master degree in Preventive Cardiovascular, Diabetes, Endocrinology and Obesity & Weight Management, and also a special 3 month Diabetes Mastercourse in English, French, Portuguese and Spanish.
“These scholarships have been provided to the young doctors to form a strong platform of experts nationwide, and not only from capitals or big cities,” she added.
An alumni from Kenya that benefitted from the scholarship said it provided her an opportunity to improve patient management after studying Preventative Cardiovascular Medicine.
“I have completed the post-graduate degree in Preventative Cardiovascular Medicine, provided by Merck Foundation. I would like to extend my gratitude to Merck Foundation for this life changing opportunity. After the completion of this course, my approach towards patient management has changed. It has helped me to also educate the community about the importance of leading a healthy lifestyle,” Dr. Victoria Mumbo said.
Merck Foundation has in total provided more than 1760 scholarships to doctors from the 52 countries in 42 critical and underserved medical specialties.
