Zambia/Mumbai , Jan 4 : The Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany, commemorated World Cancer Day 2025 in collaboration with Africa’s First Ladies and Ministries of Health. Through its Cancer Access Program, the foundation is dedicated to enhancing the quality and accessibility of cancer care across Africa.
Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation, emphasized, “For us, World Cancer Day represents our ongoing mission to revolutionize cancer care in Africa. Alongside Africa’s First Ladies, we’ve expanded cancer care capabilities by granting 194 scholarships to young doctors from 32 African nations, significantly increasing the number of oncologists on the continent. In many of these countries, we are proud to be training their first oncologists and cancer care teams.”
In total, Merck Foundation has provided over 2,100 scholarships to doctors from 52 countries in 44 underserved medical specialties. Their Cancer Access Program offers one to three-year fellowships, postgraduate diplomas, and master’s degrees in oncology, with clinical training conducted in India, Egypt, and Kenya. Additionally, the foundation offers online PG diplomas in collaboration with prestigious UK universities such as the University of South Wales and Queen Mary University of London.
Through these initiatives, Merck Foundation is establishing multidisciplinary oncology care teams across Africa, covering specialties like medical, surgical, pediatric, gynecological, and breast oncology, among others. Countries benefiting from these scholarships include Botswana, Ghana, Nigeria, Uganda, and Zimbabwe, with some nations, such as The Gambia, Sierra Leone, and Liberia, receiving training for their first-ever oncologists.
“With approximately 1.1 million new cancer cases and 700,000 deaths annually in Africa, early diagnosis and improved care are crucial,” Dr. Kelej noted. Merck Foundation’s scholarships aim to address these challenges, providing doctors with the tools and knowledge needed to improve patient outcomes.
Alumni like Dr. Chifundo Kajombo from Malawi, who trained in surgical oncology at Tata Memorial Hospital, India, shared the profound impact of the scholarship on his career and his country’s healthcare system, stating, “Since my return, I’ve restructured our breast clinic and was honored as Malawi’s Best Surgeon for 2023. None of this would have been possible without Merck Foundation’s support.”
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