He said this is critical in the annals of the history of the country, an innovation that touches the core of healthcare delivery.He said “Central African Republic needs the programmes of Merck Foundation urgently. These training programmes for specialized doctors are very critical for our people and their social and economic well-being. I wholeheartedly support Merck Foundation in our country, to enable the success of all their programmes.”

President Touadéra said these during a high-level meeting with Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg Haverkamp, Chairman of the Executive Board of E. Merck KG doubling as the Chairman of Merck Foundation Board of Trustees and Dr Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation and President of ‘Merck More Than a Mother,’ in Bangui and copied to the Ghana News Agency.

The occasion was to explain the operational concept of Merck Foundation to President Touadéra for a buy-in and again launch the partnership with First Lady and the Ministry of Health of CAR.

He urged member states to embrace the Merck Foundation novelty and take advantage of stepping up capacity building, create access for health infrastructure and personnel to prevent, diagnose early and manage cancer and other emerging cases in the field of oncology, diabetes, fertility and cardiovascular diseases.

“Through Merck Foundation, we commit to the long term partnership with Ministry of Health and The First Ladies Foundation to build healthcare capacity in their countries “Prof. Dr Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp said.

“I am very happy and proud to organize this meeting. This partnership will help us train specialized doctors in the fields of Diabetes, Hypertension, Oncology and Infertility care. This will help to contribute significantly towards social and economic development in Central African Republic. We are committed to lead Africa to a better future through changing the landscape of healthcare in the continent with special focus on French speaking countries in the next few years”, said Dr Rasha Kelej.

Merck Foundation together with   Madam Brigitte Touadera, the First Lady of Central African Republic and ‘Merck More Than a Mother’ Ambassador  have conducted a special meeting with more than 100 infertile women who have been enrolled in the “Empowering Berna” project to establish small businesses and train them to be able to generate steady monthly income.

Dr Rasha Kelej, President of ‘Merck More Than a Mother’ has pledged to support more childless women through ‘Merck more than a Mother campaign’. In partnership with the First Lady and Ministry of Health, Merck foundation will provide clinical training on fertility specialty to improve access to quality and equitable fertility care in the country.

Merck Foundation has also approved a list of candidates to be enrolled in their one and two year oncology fellowship programme as a contribution to improve cancer care in that country. Moreover, they will also provide on-line diabetes diplomas in French for Doctors from C.A.R as well as cardiovascular preventive medicines fellowship in Asia.

She said lack of financial means is not the only challenge in Africa and developing countries, but a scarcity of trained healthcare personnel capable to tackle the prevention, early diagnosis and management of cancer at all levels of the healthcare delivery system is even a bigger challenge.

Launched in 2016, over 43 candidates from more than 21 African countries have rolled in the Merck Oncology Fellowship Programme and continue to build the capacity of cancer care these countries.

As part of this Campaign, we started “Empowering Berna” project in Africa to help childless and infertile women starting their own business and thus achieve financial independence and become stronger and happier. The project has benefited more than 1,000 women across the continent.

Also, part of the campaign is our Merck Embryology & Fertility Training Program, a three-month hands-on practical course to establish the platform of fertility specialists across Africa and Asia.Merck Foundation has provided for more than 84 candidates, three months to six months clinical and practical training for fertility specialists and embryologists in more than 29 countries across Africa and Asia.