The Merck Foundation has announced the award of scholarships to 25 underprivileged Mauritian girls to support their education through to the end of secondary school.
This announcement was made by Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of the Merck Foundation, during her official visit to Mauritius which included high-level meetings with President Dharam Gokhool on July 2 and Gender Equality Minister Arianne Navarre-Marie on July 3.
“Once these girls complete their studies, we will select more to benefit from the initiative. This is how we ensure the sustainability of the programme,” said Dr. Rasha Kelej.
The initiative is part of the Merck Foundation’s global “Educating Linda” programme, which aims to empower girls through education. The scholarships will cover school fees, uniforms, learning materials, and textbooks.
Dr. Kelej further stressed the need for ongoing dialogue and strategic collaboration to promote the rights and opportunities of women and girls in Mauritius.
Dr. Kelej also participated in a specialized training session with local journalists, focusing on key public health issues such as infertility and gender-based violence (GBV).
In addition, Dr. Kelej and Minister Navarre-Marie discussed developing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to expand girls’ education across Mauritius and initiate a GBV training programme for ministry officials. The training will be tailored to local needs in close coordination with Mauritian authorities.
To support awareness and behavioral change, Dr. Kelej proposed translating educational materials—such as children’s books and animated films—into Mauritian Creole. These resources will address topics likechild marriage, girls’ education, diabetes, and hypertension, with the aim of inspiring positive social change. “Culturally relevant content can play a powerful role in shifting mindsets within the community,” she noted.
Mauritian Journalists Trained in Health Reporting
During her visit, the Merck Foundation also hosted the fourth edition of its Health Media Training at the Media Trust in Port Louis. The workshop brought together journalists from various media houses along with healthcare professionals to discuss public health and social development issues.
Speaking at the event, Jean-Daniel Labonne, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family Welfare, highlighted the importance of collaboration between journalists and health experts to raise awareness.
Several Mauritian medical experts gave insightful presentations:
- Dr. Vakil Kumar Leelodharry explained the link between infertility and infectious diseases, as well as causes of male infertility.
- Dr. Rishikesh Singh outlined fertility treatment options and emphasized key messages for community outreach.
- Dr. Janita Neermul Bhujun, a general practitioner at Brown Sequard Mental Healthcare Hospital, explored the psychosocial dimensions of infertility and GBV, urging journalists to tell empathetic and inspiring stories.
- Dr. Priya Devi Toofanny Ramphul stressed the importance of prevention and early detection of diabetes and hypertension, encouraging journalists to help communicate vital public health messages.
The Merck Foundation’s work in Mauritius reflects its broader commitment to healthcare capacity building, gender equality, and community empowerment across Africa and beyond.
