Merck Foundation (http://www.Merck-Foundation.com) in partnership with African First Ladies and Ministries of Health provided more than 750 scholarships of one-year Post-Graduate Diploma and two-year master’s degree in Preventative Cardiovascular Medicine, Diabetes, Endocrinology and Obesity and Weight Management to doctors from 50 countries in Africa, Asia and beyond; These scholarships are included in the total 1690 scholarships Merck Foundation provided to doctors from 50 countries in 42 critical and underserved medical specialties such as Oncology, Sexual and Reproductive Care, Acute Medicine, Respiratory Medicine, Embryology&Fertility specialty, Gastroenterology, Dermatology, Psychiatry, Emergency and Resuscitation Medicine, Critical Care, Paediatric Emergency Medicine, Neonatal Medicine, Advanced Surgical Practice, Pain Management, General Surgery, Clinical Microbiology and infectious diseases, Internal Medicine, Trauma&Orthopaedics and many more; Merck Foundation releases The First Animation film “MARK’S PRESSURE” with the aim to raise awareness about Hypertension, its prevention&early detection and to Promote Healthy Lifestyle, amongst children and youth in Africa and beyond; Merck Foundation has also released earlier this year, The First Animation film “Sugar Free Jude” with the aim to raise awareness about Diabetes, its prevention&early detection and to Promote Healthy Lifestyle, amongst children and youth in Africa and beyond.
Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany marks “World Heart Day 2023” in partnership with African First Ladies, Ministries of Health, Medical Societies, and Academia, through their long-term commitment towards raising awareness and training young doctors with the aim of transforming the patient care landscape in Africa, Asia and beyond specially in the fields of Diabetes and Hypertension.
Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation emphasized, “We mark “World Heart Day 2023” through our daily efforts in building healthcare capacity such as providing more than 750 scholarships of One Year PG Diploma and Two Year Master Degree in Preventative Cardiovascular Medicine, Diabetes, Endocrinology and Obesity and Weight Management to young doctors from 50 countries. This is significantly contributing to improving access to cardiovascular and diabetes care which are correlated. Not only this but to release “Mark’s Pressure”, the first animation film that addresses the hypertension prevention and early detection in Africa, this is another huge step of ours towards using art and creativity to address different sensitive health and social issues in Africa.”
Merck Foundation in total provided more than 1690 scholarships to doctors from over 50 countries in 42 critical and underserved medical specialties.
“Over the past 11 years, we are committed to improving the lives of people. In this spirit, we will continue our efforts until we significantly transform patient care landscape in underserved and vulnerable populations”, Dr. Rasha Kelej added.
So far, out of the 1690 scholarships, Merck Foundation has provided more than 144 scholarships for Cardiovascular care specialty training to young doctors from the following 24 countries: Botswana, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Ghana, Indonesia, Kenya, Lesotho, Malaysia, Mauritius, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Philippines, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, UAE, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Senator, Dr. Kelej further announced “I am happy to launch a new Fellowship Program of One-year Clinical Cardiovascular care and One-year Clinical Diabetes, onsite training programs in India for African doctors with the aim to improve cardiovascular and hypertension care in the continent.”
Dr. Sylvester Semanda, Merck Foundation alumnus from Uganda shares, “I would like to thank Merck Foundation for providing me an opportunity to complete peruse and complete my PG Diploma in Preventative Cardiovascular Medicine. I am now confident about assessing my patients’ cardiovascular risk profile and plan evidence-based interventions to reduce this risk. I also educate and communicate with my patients better regarding their therapy and lifestyle measures that would benefit them the most.”
Merck Foundation in partnership with African First Ladies have released a children’s storybook and adapted animation Film “Mark’s Pressure” with an aim to focus on the causes of the early onset of hypertension and raising awareness about its early detection, prevention and management.
“I am very happy to release the first storybook and animation film about preventing and managing Hypertension “Mark’s Pressure”. Through our new animation video of our storybook, we want to encourage our communities to reduce salt, stop sugar, exercise regularly, eat healthy and stop smoking, this is the only way to prevent and manage hypertension and diabetes, which are predominant risk factors for the development of several serious complications and diseases”, says Senator Rasha Kelej.
Watch the “Mark’s Pressure” Animation movie here: https://apo-opa.info/3PTRZga
Merck Foundation’s pan African TV program “Our Africa”, that is conceptualized, produced, directed, and co-hosted by Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation and features African Fashion Designers, Singers, and prominent experts from various domains with the aim to raise awareness about social and health issues, has an episode dedicated to raise awareness about promoting healthy lifestyle.
Watch the Episode here: https://apo-opa.info/3LuTgII
Moreover, Merck Foundation together with African First Ladies, has also introduced Awards for Media, Fashion Designers, Filmmakers, Musicians/ Singers, and new potential talents in these fields from African countries to Promote a healthy lifestyle and raise awareness about prevention and early detection of Diabetes and Hypertension.
Details of the awards:
1. Merck Foundation Media Recognition Awards 2023 “Diabetes&Hypertension”
Media representatives are invited to showcase their work through strong and influential messages to promote a healthy lifestyle raise awareness about prevention and early detection of Diabetes and Hypertension.
Click here (https://apo-opa.info/40yUJTn) to view more details.
2. Merck Foundation Film Awards 2023 “Diabetes&Hypertension”
All African Filmmakers, Students of Film Making Training Institutions or Young Talents of Africa are invited to create and share a long or short FILMS, either drama, documentary or docudrama to deliver strong and influential messages to promote a healthy lifestyle raise awareness about prevention and early detection of Diabetes and Hypertension.
Click here (https://apo-opa.info/43c8poX) to view more details.
3. Merck Foundation Fashion Awards 2023 “Diabetes&Hypertension”
All African Fashion Students and Designers are invited to create and share designs to deliver strong and influential messages to promote a healthy lifestyle raise awareness about prevention and early detection of Diabetes and Hypertension.
Click here (https://apo-opa.info/41dRh0l) to view more details.
4. Merck Foundation Song Awards 2023 “Diabetes&Hypertension”
All African Singers and Musical Artists are invited to create and share a SONG with the aim to promote a healthy lifestyle raise awareness about prevention and early detection of Diabetes and Hypertension.
Click here (https://apo-opa.info/3KDU38v) to view more details.
Submission deadline for Merck Foundation “Diabetes&Hypertension” Awards :
30th October 2023.
Entries for all the awards are to be submitted via email to:
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Merck Foundation.
Media contact:
Mehak Handa
Community Awareness Program Manager
+91 9310087613/ +91 9319606669
mehak.handa@external.merckgroup.com
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About Merck Foundation:
The Merck Foundation, established in 2017, is the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany, aims to improve the health and wellbeing of people and advance their lives through science and technology. Our efforts are primarily focused on improving access to quality&equitable healthcare solutions in underserved communities, building healthcare and scientific research capacity and empowering people in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) with a special focus on women and youth. All Merck Foundation press releases are distributed by e-mail at the same time they become available on the Merck Foundation Website. Please visit Merck-Foundation.com to read more. To know more, reach out to our social media: Merck Foundation (Merck-Foundation.com); Facebook (https://apo-opa.info/3Ykd3hH), Twitter (https://apo-opa.info/3Yo3y11), Instagram (https://apo-opa.info/3lsqM7q), YouTube (https://apo-opa.info/3CNFGLa), and Flickr (https://apo-opa.info/3JT8BSC).
