By Memory Kutengule Chatonda
First Lady, Monica Chakwera has reaffirmed her commitment to advancing efforts to promote girls’ education and empower women with infertility conditions.
In her keynote address during the inauguration of the 11th edition of the Merck Foundation Africa – Asia Luminary held in Tanzania on Tuesday, Chakwera said since Malawi, through her office, partnered with the Merck Foundation in 2020, a great impact has been registered in the areas of education, health and the overall well-being of people.
“Under the Education Linda Initiative, we have provided scholarships to 79 high-achieving girls in secondary schools. Additionally, we have provided 48 scholarships to young medical doctors to specialize in crucial medical areas,” she added.
Chakwera, who is also the Merck Foundation’s “More Than a Bride” Ambassador, added that Malawi has also moved steadily and quickly in sensitizing women with infertility conditions through various educational programmes and empowering them with income-generating activities to become self-reliant.
“We will continue to advocate for a cultural shift regarding a wide range of social and health issues, including breaking the stigma around infertility, supporting girls’ education and ending child marriage,” she said.
Speaking earlier, the chairperson of the Merck Foundation Board of Trustees, Prof. Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp said the foundation will continue to work with the First Ladies from African countries and Asia to build healthcare capacity through the provision of scholarships in underserved medical specialties such as oncology, diabetes, cardiology and sexual and reproductive medicine.
He said this intervention would help to address the substantial challenges faced by medical specialists in countries in Africa and Asia.
The Merck Foundation is a United States-based charitable organization that aims to improve the health and well-being of people and advance their lives through science and technology.
This year, the Merck Foundation Africa-Asia Luminary has attracted keynote speakers and the First Ladies of Burundi, Cape Verde, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, The Maldives, Malawi, Mozambique, Zanzibar and Zimbabwe.