Merck Foundation (www.Merck-Foundation.com) declared Botswana First Lady as Ambassador of “More than a Mother” to build healthcare capacity, break infertility stigma, stop GBV and support girl education; Merck Foundation Chairperson&CEO meet Botswana President and First Lady to acknowledge their Alumni and Award winners; Merck Foundation marking strong milestone of Transforming Patient Care Landscape and Supporting Girl Education in partnership with Botswana First Lady.

Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany officially launched their programs in partnership with H.E. Mrs. NEO JANE MASISI, The First Lady of Botswana, also the Ambassador of “Merck Foundation More Than a Mother”, the programs which started in 2018 with the aim to transform patient care, build healthcare capacity, break the stigma of infertility, empower women, support girl education, stop GBV in Botswana and the rest of Africa.

The program took place in esteemed presence of The President of the Republic of Botswana, H.E. Dr. MOKGWEETSI ERIC KEABETSWE MASISI and Chairman of Merck Foundation Board of Trustees, Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp.

The Summit was chaired by The First Lady of Botswana, H.E. Mrs. NEO JANE MASISI, and CEO of Merck Foundation, Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej.

H.E. Dr. MOKGWEETSI ERIC MASISI, the President of Botswana emphasized during the launch “I deeply appreciate the joint programs of The First Lady of Botswana and the Merck Foundation. I am thrilled to see the tangible, measurable impact of these programs  and their long-term commitment to the health and social development of our beautiful country, in such a short time. Botswana needs these valuable programs; I wholeheartedly wish for their success.”

Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation and President of “More Than a Mother” Campaign emphasized, “It is a great honor to meet H.E. The President of Republic of Botswana, and our long-term partner and my dear sister, H.E. Mrs. NEO JANE MASISI, The First Lady of Republic of Botswana and Ambassador of “Merck Foundation More Than a Mother” to officially launch the Merck Foundation Programs in the country, and to underscore our commitment towards building healthcare and media capacity, patient care landscape transformation, ending GBV, breaking infertility stigma and supporting girl education, together in the country.”

H.E. Mrs. NEO JANE MASISI, The First Lady of Republic of Botswana, Ambassador of “Merck Foundation More Than a Mother” expressed, “It is a pleasure to welcome and meet Merck Foundation Chairman and CEO to our country. Together we officially launched and also celebrated important milestones of the great success of our joint programs to build healthcare capacity, transform patientcare, break infertility stigma, support girl education and stop GBV, in our country since 2018.

In a very short time, we have been able to provide 46 scholarships to our young doctors in many specialties which are very critical for us. We are proud of our achievements together.”

“I am very happy to share that we have together transformed the patientcare landscape of Botswana by providing 46 scholarships of One-Year Online PG Diploma and Two-Year Master Degree for local doctors from Botswana nationwide in many underserved and critical medical specialties such as Oncology, Diabetes, Endocrinology, Embryology, Fertility, Sexual and Reproductive care, Acute Medicine, Dermatology, Obesity and Weight Management, Respiratory Care and Internal Medicine and more, it is considered as an excellent number for 2.7 M population. And we are still going to provide more scholarships to local  healthcare providers nationwide”, emphasized Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg Haverkamp, Merck Foundation Board of Trustees.

“I am also very happy to share that together with Her Excellency The First Lady of Botswana, we are also supporting girl education by providing scholarships and bicycles for 40 schoolgirls to cover their transportation and other education expenses so that they can reach their potentials and achieve their dreams”, Dr. Rasha Kelej added.

Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg Haverkamp added, “Our aim is to improve the overall health and wellbeing of people by building healthcare capacity across Africa, Asia and other developing countries. We are strongly committed to transforming patientcare landscape through our scholarships program.”

“Merck Foundation has provided 1810 scholarships to doctors from 52 countries in 42 critical and underserved medical specialties. Out of the total 46 scholarships provided in Botswana, 19 scholarships have been provided for Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Obesity&Weight Management, for Botswanan doctors from different provinces across the country, which is very important to improve access to quality and equitable diabetes and hypertension patient care not only in Gaborone but nationwide. After completion of the course, these doctors will be able to establish diabetes or hypertension clinics in their Health Centre or Hospital with the aim to help prevent and manage the disease in their own communities”,  Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej added.

Out of the 46 scholarships, 10 scholarships have been provided to doctors in Fertility and one-year PG Diploma and two-year Master degree in Sexual and Reproductive Medicine. This is a huge number that will advance women’s health in the country.

5 Scholarships have been provided for Oncology to develop and support the cancer care capacity in the country.

Moreover, 12 scholarships have been provided for Acute Medicine, Respiratory Care, Dermatology, Gastroenterology and Internal Medicine and more as part of Merck Foundation Capacity Advancement Program.

Merck Foundation is also working closely with Botswana First Lady to inspire girls and sensitize communities about the importance of girl education. As a part of their ‘Educating Linda’ program, Merck Foundation will sponsor the education of 20 deserving schoolgirls, till they graduate. Moreover, Merck Foundation also provided 20 bicycles to encourage girls to continue going to the school, as they sometimes dropout due to long distances.          

“I really believe that when the girls are educated, their countries become more powerful, stronger&prosperous”, added Senator Kelej.

Merck Foundation Chairman and CEO together with The First Lady of Botswana also visited schools in the country to meet the beneficiaries of Sewing machines donation and witness their success.

During the Summit, Merck Foundation Awards Ceremony was held, during which 7 Winners of the Merck Foundation Awards were acknowledged by Merck Foundation Chairman, Merck Foundation CEO together with Botswana First Lady.

Additionally, they also addressed the journalists during the Merck Foundation Health Media Training conducted in partnership with The First Lady of Botswana for the Botswanan journalists, to emphasize on the important role that media plays to influence society to create a cultural shift with the aim to address wide range of social and health issues such as: Breaking Infertility Stigma, Supporting Girl Education, Women Empowerment, Ending Child Marriage, Ending FGM, Stopping GBV, Diabetes and Hypertension awareness. Apart from this, the Call for Application for 8 important Merck Foundation Awards in partnership with The First Lady of Botswana were announced for Media, Musicians, Fashion Designers, Filmmakers, students, and new potential talents in these fields Merck Foundation. The training program was also addressed by prominent Medical&Media Experts and Government Officials.

Moreover, Merck Foundation Chairman, and Merck Foundation CEO together with The First Lady of Botswana signed a few copies of their different children’s storybooks titled: “More Than a Mother” created for children and youth to emphasize and strengthen family values of love and respect from an early age; “Not Who You Are” to teach boys to love and respect their future wives and eliminate domestic violence, to emphasize on the importance of empowering girls through education and “Sugar Free Jude” and “Mark’s Pressure” to promote a healthy lifestyle and raise awareness on the early detection and prevention of Diabetes&Hypertension. Thousands of copies of these storybooks are going to be distributed to school students of Botswana.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Merck Foundation.

More images: https://apo-opa.co/3zUCmj0

Contact details:
Mehak Handa
Community Awareness Program Manager
+91 9310087613/ +91 9319606669
mehak.handa@external.merckgroup.com

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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 www.Merck-Foundation.com to read more. Follow the social media of Merck Foundation: Facebook (https://apo-opa.co/4fkPtdt), Twitter (https://apo-opa.co/4c8X7oQ), Instagram (https://apo-opa.co/3y4OMEH), YouTube (https://apo-opa.co/3YrEj0u) and Flickr (https://apo-opa.co/3zVIbwS).

The second National Children’s Parliament has proposed agricultural development and sensitisation as a strategy to address the hunger and malnutrition crisis in the country.  

The Children’s Parliament sat on Friday, 26 July 2024, at Parliament House under the theme “A call to end child hunger and malnutrition,” where Ms Catherine Nanono was elected Speaker.

During the session, a motion on ending hunger and malnutrition was debated, with many speakers calling for policy reforms, sensitisation, and development to eradicate hunger and malnutrition. 

Ms Gift Oliver Acheng, a pupil who represented Abim constituency, said poverty and ignorance are the leading causes of malnutrition and hunger. 

She highlighted farmers’ plight in Abim, where she said they invest substantially in crop farming, but sell their harvest on the cheap.

“How can a farmer grow crops and sell them at cheap prices? That has made farmers reluctant to grow crops, and this leads to child hunger,” she said.

AUDIO: Acheng

Ms Acheng said cattle rustlers who reign terror in the region, endangering farmers and driving them out of agriculture contribute to hunger and malnutrition.

She offered heightened security deployments to eradicate the insecurity challenge. 

“We call for the deployment of more soldiers to protect farmers in the Karamoja region,” she added.

Ms Patricia Namukwaya, a pupil from Lohana Academy, stated that in and around Kampala, there is growing consumption of fast foods compared to organic foods, worsening the malnutrition problem.  

She urged parents to choose organic and healthy alternatives.

“I want to please my child, so I take them to buy junk foods, and yet these foods are harmful. I send this call to all parents to stop giving children food that is not good for their health,” she said.

From Kamwenge, Ms Mary Kemigisa from Trinity Primary School said granaries in the villages are ceasing to exist, and with this cultural change comes hunger and malnutrition. 

“Modernisation came, and people no longer use granaries, yet they need them to store food. Our parents need sensitisation on this,” she said. 

AUDIO: Kemigisa

The school feeding programme, she said, needs enhancement, noting that her district of Kamwenge has high rates of stunted children.

Ms Malicom Hayat, from Yumbe Primary School, stated that in her district, drug and alcohol abuse greatly contributes to hunger and malnutrition. She said that most men spend their money on drugs and alcohol.

Deputy Speaker Hon Thomas Tayebwa, who presided at the function, emphasised the critical need to tackle drunkenness as a pervasive obstacle to achieving food security at the household level.

“You have a woman at home whose husband is a drunkard, but she knows that this plantation is where we shall squeeze to get school fees for the children. And you see a man comes with a book to her saying your husband signed off the whole plantation; he was eating pork and goat’s meat,” he said. 

Tayebwa highlighted that excessive alcohol consumption among men in villages leads to the sale of food meant for their families, resulting in hunger and malnutrition. He encouraged legislators to expedite the Food and Nutrition Bill, considering it a crucial solution to addressing hunger and malnutrition.

AUDIO: Hon. Tayebwa

The Minister of State for Youths and Children’s Affairs, Hon Balaam Barugahara, said he would listen to the voice of the children to inform his policy decisions, noting that despite efforts from the government, the statistics on hunger and malnutrition are still alarming.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.

Members of Parliament have eulogised the late Hon.  Simon Peter Aleper and described him as a rock that was unshakable and a uniting factor for Karamoja and Uganda.

During a special sitting on Thursday, 25 July 2024, the MPs, through a motion tabled by Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja remembered Aleper as a patriot and instrumental figure in the economic development and social progress of Karamoja region and the nation at large.

“Aleper boldly spoke against programmes that disrupted the productivity of the region and vehemently supported those that improved the welfare of his people,” Nabbanja said.

The late Hon. Aleper served in the 9th Parliament as the MP for Moroto Municipality. He was a member of the ruling party’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) and Vice Chairperson, Karamoja Region.

Aleper died on the morning of Tuesday, 23 July 2024 after his car was involved in an accident along the Tirinyi Highway while travelling to Kampala for the National Resistance Movement (NRM) party CEC meeting.

Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa noted the late’s effort in bringing development to the Karamoja region when he worked tirelessly to take Karimojong children off the streets in the capital, Kampala.

“He had reached his prime. In football, when a player reaches around 25 years, you have reached the prime. Hon. Aleper had reached his prime age of making very focal contribution to the country’s development,” Tayebwa said.

The Vice-President, H.E. Jessica Alupo, described Aleper as a person who believed that all Ugandans were entitled to government programmes without discrimination.

“He believed in the principal of the NRM, of nationalism, and rising to serve at the level of the Central Executive Committee means that he was an accomplished NRM leader,” she said.

Hon. Peter Lokeris, the Minister for Karamoja Affairs, praised the late for contributing to the development of the region and being consultative all of his lifetime.

Similarly, Hon. Francis Adome, the MP for Moroto Municipality appreciated government for recognising the deceased who he fondly called “Rock”.

Prior to the sitting, Speaker Anita Among and other mourners paid their respects to the late Aleper, whose casket lay in state at the foyer.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.

The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) has announced the opening for applications for the “ECA Fellowships for Young African Professionals.”

The program aims to engage young Africans in skill and capacity development for Africa’s social dimensions. It focuses on training and mentorship to cultivate highly skilled human capital for success in research, international development, and the public sector.

Additionally, the program seeks to provide practical experience for young professionals in academia, the public sector, or international development to foster a community of African experts dedicated to contributing to the continent’s development priorities. Ultimately, the program aims to enhance the fellows’ skills and capacity.

Applicants for the Fellowship must be under 35 years old, possess a Master’s Degree or related Advanced degree, or be currently enrolled in a PhD program. Interested persons should have experience in academic research or work and proficiency in English or French. In addition, applicants must submit a research proposal of at least 1,000 words in their preferred thematic area and three letters of reference or recommendation.

The fellowship tenure is initially for six months, with the potential for renewal for an additional six months contingent upon a satisfactory performance evaluation for a maximum of 12 months.

Thematic areas covered by the Fellowship Programme include the following:

Macroeconomic Policy, Economic Governance, and Public Finance

Private Sector Development and Finance

Innovative Finance and Capital Markets

Poverty, Inequality, and Social Policy

Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment

Demographic Dynamics for Development

Innovation and Technology

Climate Change, Environment, and Natural Resources Management

Green Economy

Industrialisation and Economic Diversification Policies

Development Planning and Statistics

Regional Integration, Infrastructure, and Trade

Labour Economics and Employment

Strategic Planning, Monitoring, Reporting, and Evaluation

Communication, Human Resources Development, and Administration

For detailed information, go to:  ECA Fellowship Programme for Young African Professionals

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA).