Tag: merck foundation

Merck Foundation avails over 140 oncology scholarships to Africa

Kuda Pembere

By Kudakwashe Pembere The number of Merck Foundation’s scholarships for training cancer specialists in Africa to meet the huge demand of oncology services is increasing as the organization’s Cancer Access Program with First Ladies and Ministries of Health has managed to avail over 140 scholarships to African doctors. Cancer Access Program seeks 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. With World Cancer Day commemorations running on…

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Zim First Lady lauds Merck Foundation scholarships covering the underserved medical specialties gap

Kuda Pembere

By Kuda Pembere recently in Mumbai, India Over 100 scholarships to study in the underserved medical specialties such as fertility, embryology, respiratory medicine, oncology amongst others have been availed to Zimbabwean doctors under the Merck Foundation scholarship program, Zimbabwe’s First Lady Amai Auxillia Mnangagwa said. She said this during a Merck Foundation Africa-Asia Luminary last week in Mumbai, India. This is for the first time in Zimbabwe that we work on such an impactful program, it is history in the making. Through our long term partnership and as the ambassador…

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Frequent Sex Increases Conception Chances In Couples Battling Infertility-Dr Mocanu

Michael Gwarisa

PROLONGED exposure to the sperm or male sex cell, reduces chances of infertility, in the process increasing a woman’s chances of conceiving, a top fertility expert has said. By Michael Gwarisa This comes amidst indications that couples mainly from Sub Saharan Africa, Zimbabwe included, are increasingly experiencing infertility challenges with global data showing that approximately 48.5 million couples globally are affected by infertility. Infertility is defined clinically as failure to conceive after 12 months or more of regular unprotected sexual intercourse. Speaking during a virtual press conference to mark World Infertility…

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African First Ladies join hands in the fight against Infertility and Stigma

Kuda Pembere

African First Ladies continue to wage their war against stigmatisation of women battling infertility yearning for societal change while initiating discussions on how to integrate infertility treatment into the public healthcare systems. By Kudakwashe Pembere Namibia’s First Lady Mrs. Monica Geingos at the 9th Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary Conference said they are witnessing a high number of women being rejected by their partners due to infertility issues thus resorting to alcohol abuse. “We had to intervene on psychosocial issues like substance abuse, but also refer them to psychological treatment…

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Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary 2022 Kicks Off In Dubai

Michael Gwarisa

THE 9th edition of the Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary, a yearly educational conference conducted to contribute to Africa and Asia’s socio-economic development, has commenced in Dubai amidst growing calls for governments in Africa to make infertility treatment affordable to the general citizenry. By Michael Gwarisa The two day conference, a hybrid meeting is being attended by over 6000 delegates physically and online and these include healthcare providers, Policy makers, academia, researchers and health media from more than 70 English, French and Portuguese speaking countries. Giving her introductory remarks, Merck…

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Merck Foundation together with African First Ladies mark “World Heart Day 2022” by providing 720 scholarships of Preventative Cardiovascular, Diabetes and Endocrinology for doctors from 45 countries

Michael Gwarisa

Merck Foundation in partnership with African First Ladies and Ministries of Health provided more than 720 scholarships of one–year Post–Graduate Diploma and two–year Master Degree in Preventative CardiovascularMedicine, Diabetes and Endocrinology to doctors from 45 countries in Africa, Asia and beyond. These scholarships are included in the total 1450 scholarships Merck Foundation provided to doctors from 47 countries in 32 critical and underserved medical specialties such as oncology, fertility, respiratory medicine, acute medicine, orthopaedic and many more. Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany marks “World Heart Day…

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Infertility on the rise in Zimbabwean Men

Michael Gwarisa

THERE is currently an increase in infertility in Zimbabwe owing to a myriad of factors ranging from anatomical, environmental, dietary/weight and physiological factors, reproductive health experts have warned. By Michael Gwarisa Infertility, which is defined clinically as failure to conceive after 12 months or more of regular unprotected sexual intercourse affects approximately 48.5 million couples globally. Data from a cross section study by consultant Obstetrician, Dr Mugove Madziyire et al which explored “The causes of infertility in women presenting to gynaecology clinics in Harare, Zimbabwe” shows that half of the causes…

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Zimbabwe Health Journalists Trained On Sensible Infertility Reporting

Michael Gwarisa

ZIMBABWE’S First Lady, Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa in partnership with the Merck Foundation and the Zimbabwe Union of Journalists (ZUJ), hosted a half day training to sensitise Zimbabwean Journalists on issues around fertility and infertility. By Michael Gwarisa The development comes in the midst of a growing burden in fertility related complications in both women and men in Sub-Saharan Africa largely driven by lifestyle related health conditions and Non Communicable diseases (NCDs). Giving her remarks during the training, Merck Foundation Chief Executive Officer, Dr Rasha Kelej said there were numerous risk…

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Merck Foundation Trains 100 African Cardiovascular Experts

Patricia Mashiri

Merck Foundation, a philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany in partnership with African First Ladies, Ministries of Health, Medical Societies, and Academia celebrated the World Heart Day by providing one-year Post-Graduate Diploma and two-year Master degree in Preventive Cardiovascular Medicine to 100 doctors from 25 countries in Africa and Asia. By Patricia Mashiri The initiative shows commitment towards building Cardiovascular preventive care capacity in Africa, Asia and beyond. Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation said he was proud of the training they have been providing so far in…

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