The Merck Foundation, convened the 7th edition of its First Ladies Initiative Summit (MFFLI) in Dubai, bringing together First Ladies from 14 African and Asian countries to address pressing health and social issues.
Held under the theme of transforming patient care and driving social impact, the two-day hybrid conference drew more than 6,000 participants from over 70 countries, including ministers, healthcare professionals, media, and grassroots advocates. The First Ladies attended as Guests of Honor and Keynote Speakers, reinforcing their commitment as Ambassadors of the Foundation’s flagship “More Than a Mother” campaign.
“It is a great honor to welcome our esteemed Guests of Honor, who continue to champion women’s health, infertility awareness, and social development in their respective countries,” said Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej. “Through this platform, we exchanged valuable experiences and deepened our discussions on the transformative impact of our initiatives across underserved communities.”
The high-level summit was officially inaugurated by Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp, Chairman of Merck Foundation Board of Trustees, and Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of the Merck Foundation and President of MFFLI.
Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp emphasized the Foundation’s broader mission: “We are committed to building healthcare capacity and ensuring equitable access to quality care across Africa, Asia, and beyond. With the strong support of our partners and ambassadors, we are moving closer to a world where everyone can enjoy a healthy and fulfilled life.”
Dr. Kelej highlighted Merck Foundation’s milestones, noting that over 2,280 scholarships have been awarded to young doctors from 52 countries in 44 critical specialties, including oncology, diabetes, reproductive health, and more. “Many of these doctors are becoming the first specialists in their countries, which is a historic shift in the healthcare landscape,” she said.
The summit also marked two significant milestones: the 8th anniversary of the Merck Foundation and 13 years of impactful development programs since 2012.
In honor of World Infertility Awareness Month (June), the Foundation spotlighted its “More Than a Mother” campaign, which empowers infertile and childless women through education, access to healthcare, and advocacy. Over 700 scholarships have been dedicated to training in fertility, embryology, reproductive medicine, and related fields to strengthen fertility care and women’s health services.
The first day of the summit featured a plenary session with the First Ladies and a ministerial panel of African health ministers and international experts. The second day included parallel sessions on oncology, fertility, and community engagement. A special focus was placed on the Merck Foundation Health Media Training, which explored the media’s powerful role in breaking taboos, raising awareness, and supporting causes such as girls’ education, gender-based violence prevention, child marriage, and non-communicable disease awareness.
With its expansive hybrid format, the summit enabled inclusive participation and real-time collaboration across continents, reinforcing the Foundation’s vision for global health equity and sustainable social impact.
