The First Lady of Nigeria, Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu, has highlighted the significance of collaboration in confronting healthcare obstacles and empowering communities during her inaugural appearance at the 7th edition of the Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative (MFFLI) Summit.
Speaking at the MFFLI summit in Dubai, Tinubu praised the Merck Foundation for its endeavors in enhancing healthcare competence and fostering social advancement throughout Africa and Asia, acknowledging their influence in Nigeria.
Reiterating Nigeria’s pledge to promote healthcare and education, Tinubu stated: “I am privileged to stand with my esteemed counterparts, the First Ladies of Africa and Asia, in advocating for the ‘More Than a Mother’ initiative. This program tackles essential matters such as the stigma of infertility and empowers women. I extend my gratitude to the Merck Foundation for their visionary guidance and congratulate them on their 8th anniversary.”
The First Lady disclosed that 63 Nigerian physicians have profited from scholarships through various Merck Foundation initiatives. These scholarships encompass training in fertility care, diabetes management, cardiology, psychiatry, and other underrepresented fields.
“After completing their training, these doctors will set up clinics within their communities to offer vital healthcare services. This is a crucial measure toward enhancing public health results in Nigeria, and I am dedicated to expanding this program through my office and the Ministry of Health,” she asserted.
Tinubu also underscored initiatives to combat diabetes in Nigeria via the Diabetes Blue Program, under which 39 Nigerian doctors have received advanced training. Moreover, 16 doctors have been educated in areas such as acute medicine, respiratory care, and critical care.
Beyond healthcare, Tinubu emphasized her commitment to education, especially for girls.
She commended the Merck Foundation’s Educating Linda initiative, which supports underprivileged girls, aligning with her Renewed Hope Initiative that focuses on girl-child education.
“Education is the foundation of progress. Through partnerships with the African Union Development Agency, we have facilitated scholarships and established 40 alternative high schools for girls who had to leave due to early marriage or pregnancy. These schools offer a second opportunity for these young women to realize their aspirations.”
She expressed hope in fortifying partnerships with the Merck Foundation, especially in combating gender-based violence, female genital mutilation, child marriage, and health concerns like hypertension and infertility stigma.
Earlier, Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp, Chairman of the Merck Foundation Board of Trustees, commended the First Ladies’ dedication to healthcare and social development.
He remarked: “This summit epitomizes what we can accomplish together. Our initiatives, including the scholarship program, are transforming healthcare in underserved areas by cultivating a new generation of specialists.”
He acknowledged that the scarcity of financial resources is not the sole issue faced by Africa, but the lack of trained healthcare professionals capable of effectively preventing, diagnosing, and managing diseases.
He lamented that the widespread deficiency of medical and healthcare personnel has become one of the most significant obstacles to accessing quality healthcare across the continent and globally.
He asserted that the foundation, in collaboration with partners, has greatly enhanced healthcare capacity by offering over 2270 scholarships for one and two-year master degrees to further qualify doctors from 52 countries across 44 vital and underserved medical specialties.
In her welcoming address, Dr. Rasha Kalej, CEO of the Merck Foundation, stated that their initiatives to bolster healthcare systems have directly improved the lives of millions.
“Our scholarships in over 44 critical specialties are addressing Africa’s acute shortage of medical specialists, and we take pride in the substantial impact this has achieved,” she emphasized.
“We provided nearly 1000 scholarships for girls in more than 17 countries in collaboration with the First Lady.”
She highlighted that the summit exemplified the power of collaboration in addressing urgent health and social issues.
