In a powerful demonstration of international cooperation to strengthen healthcare systems and empower women, twelve First Ladies from Africa and Asia on Thursday joined global health experts, policymakers and medical professionals to inaugurate the 13th edition of the Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary 2026, a flagship conference focused on transforming healthcare and addressing pressing social challenges across developing nations.
The two-day virtual conference, hosted by Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA, Germany, was officially opened by Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp, Chairman of the Merck Foundation Board of Trustees, and Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej (Ret.), Chief Executive Officer of Merck Foundation and President of the “More Than a Mother” campaign.
The event brought together an influential coalition of First Ladies serving as Ambassadors of the Foundation’s programmes, showing the growing role of female leadership in shaping healthcare policies and advancing social development across Africa and Asia.
Among the distinguished participants was Nigeria’s First Lady, H.E. Senator Oluremi Tinubu, alongside her counterparts from Angola, Botswana, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Gabon, The Gambia, Kenya, Liberia, Maldives, Mozambique and São Tomé and Príncipe.
Speaking during the inaugural session, Dr. Kelej highlighted the Foundation’s achievements in expanding access to specialized healthcare and addressing critical social issues through strategic partnerships with governments, healthcare institutions and civil society organizations.
“It is a great privilege to welcome our distinguished Guests of Honor and Keynote Speakers, the First Ladies of Africa and Asia, who are Ambassadors of our ‘More Than a Mother’ campaign. Together, we exchanged valuable experiences and engaged in meaningful discussions on the impact of our programmes aimed at transforming patient care and raising awareness on critical social and health issues,” she said.
A major highlight of the conference was the Foundation’s announcement that it has awarded more than 2,600 scholarships to healthcare professionals from 52 countries, covering 44 critical and underserved medical specialties.
The initiative has helped produce the first specialists in several medical fields in a number of participating countries, significantly improving healthcare delivery and patient outcomes.
According to the Foundation, over 800 of these scholarships have specifically targeted fertility care, reproductive health, women’s health, psychiatry, urology, embryology and family medicine.
The investment is aimed at strengthening fertility treatment services and improving healthcare access for women across 42 countries.
The conference also served as a platform to commemorate World Infertility Awareness Month through the Foundation’s widely acclaimed “More Than a Mother” campaign, which seeks to eliminate the stigma associated with infertility and childlessness while promoting access to reproductive healthcare and empowering affected women socially and economically.
For many African societies where women often face social exclusion and discrimination due to infertility, the campaign has emerged as a significant advocacy movement, encouraging a shift in public perception and promoting compassionate support systems for affected families.
Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp reaffirmed the Foundation’s commitment to improving healthcare access and building medical capacity in underserved communities.
He commended the First Ladies, healthcare professionals, ministers, academics, media practitioners and development partners for their continued collaboration in advancing quality and equitable healthcare services.
The conference also marked two significant milestones: the 9th anniversary of the Merck Foundation and 14 years of its development programmes, which began in 2012 and have since expanded across Africa, Asia and other developing regions.
Organisers disclosed that more than 800 participants from 57 English-, French- and Portuguese-speaking countries attended the opening day, including healthcare providers, policymakers, researchers and media professionals.
The event’s live-stream broadcast attracted more than 220,000 online viewers globally, reflecting growing international interest in healthcare development and social transformation initiatives.
Beyond healthcare capacity building, the Foundation showcased its broader impact on education and public awareness.
It has trained over 4,000 media professionals across 42 countries to improve reporting on health and social issues, launched annual awards promoting advocacy through journalism, film, music and fashion, and produced educational storybooks and animation films addressing infertility stigma, cancer awareness, diabetes prevention and girls’ education.
The Foundation has also supported the education of more than 1,550 African schoolgirls from 21 countries through scholarship programmes covering tuition, uniforms, books and transportation, helping vulnerable girls remain in school and achieve their academic aspirations.
The second day of the conference will focus on scientific discussions in oncology and fertility care, bringing together experts to explore innovative approaches to addressing some of the most pressing healthcare challenges facing developing countries.
The gathering ultimately reinforced a growing consensus among African and Asian leaders that investing in healthcare professionals, empowering women and addressing social stigma are essential pillars for building healthier and more prosperous societies.