The Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary Summit marked a significant milestone when it celebrated nine years as an independent organisation and fourteen years of implementing development programmes across Africa, Asia, and other underserved regions.
The summit, which was more than a ceremonial gathering, brought together First Ladies serving as Ambassadors of the More Than a Mother campaign alongside development partners to review achievements, assess ongoing initiatives, and outline priorities for the future.
Leading the discussions was Merck Foundation CEO and President of the More Than a Mother campaign, Rasha Kelej, who underscored the importance of collaboration in driving meaningful change.
Our partnership with African and Asian First Ladies has proven that when leadership meets compassion, institutional gaps close rapidly. Today, we are not just reporting statistics; we are celebrating real human lives transformed across continents.
Expanding access to quality healthcare emerged as one of the summit’s central themes. Delegates were informed that healthcare professionals have now received training across 44 specialised and underserved medical fields, including oncology, diabetes management, fertility care, reproductive health, and neonatal medicine.
The initiative aims to strengthen local healthcare systems by reducing dependence on costly overseas medical treatment and ensuring patients can access specialist care within their own countries.
The summit also highlighted the ongoing fight against infertility stigma through the ”More Than a Mother campaign”.
Participants reviewed progress in challenging long-standing misconceptions that place the burden of infertility solely on women, while promoting a more balanced understanding that infertility affects couples.
Alongside awareness campaigns, the foundation continues to provide psychological support, medical treatment, and financial assistance to families facing infertility.
Girls’ education featured prominently on the agenda through the foundation’s Educating Linda programme, which supports academically talented girls from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Beyond helping beneficiaries complete their education, the initiative seeks to equip them with the knowledge and opportunities needed to build sustainable and independent futures. Delegates agreed that investing in girls’ education remains a powerful strategy for advancing gender equality and fostering long-term economic development.
Another recurring theme throughout the summit was the importance of strengthening local institutions rather than relying solely on external interventions.
Several First Ladies emphasised that empowering local professionals through scholarships, specialised training, and institutional partnerships creates lasting impact far beyond short-term aid programmes. They pointed to the Merck Foundation’s capacity-building model as a sustainable approach to improving healthcare and education across developing nations.
In her closing remarks, Kelej reaffirmed the foundation’s commitment to expanding its medical scholarship programmes and increasing investment in girls’ education throughout 2026 and beyond.
She also stressed that continued collaboration with governments, healthcare institutions, and community leaders will remain central to the foundation’s mission of creating lasting social and healthcare transformation across Africa and Asia.
Umm E Habiba,
Punjab, Pakistan
