The Merck Foundation has awarded more than 2,600 scholarships to healthcare providers from 52 countries in 44 critical and underserved medical specialties since 2012.
The Chief Executive Officer of the foundation, Dr Rasha Kelej, disclosed this at the ongoing virtual 13th edition of the Merck Foundation Africa-Asia Luminary 2026 on Friday.
The event has participants from African and Asian first ladies, health experts, policymakers, medical professionals, and development partners from more than 70 countries.
She said the scholarships covered areas such as oncology, diabetes, endocrinology, cardiovascular medicine, fertility care and reproductive health.
Other areas covered are critical care, respiratory medicine, psychiatry, surgery, dermatology, and neonatal care.
Fifty percent of the scholarships were awarded to female healthcare providers as part of efforts to promote women’s participation in science, technology, and healthcare leadership.
“We have also provided more than 1,500 scholarships annually to schoolgirls through the Educating Linda programme.
“Without our partners, governments, first ladies, and healthcare professionals, we would not have achieved this impact,” she said.
Nigeria’s First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, in her remarks commended the Merck Foundation for the scholarships, describing the initiative as a major contribution to strengthening health care systems and expanding access to specialist care.
She noted that Nigeria benefited from 91 of the scholarships awarded, and the foundation’s Educating Linda programme had supported 71 vulnerable Nigerian schoolgirls with scholarships.
”The scholarship covered school fees and other educational needs until completion of secondary education.
”The beneficiaries received training in diabetes and endocrinology, cardiology, preventive cardiovascular medicine, obesity management, fertility and embryology, and sexual and reproductive health.”
According to her, others also benefited in areas of infectious diseases, medical oncology, neurology, family medicine, and pain management, among others.
“Nigeria received 2,800 educational kits and 4,000 copies of seven Merck Foundation storybooks promoting girls’ education, ending child marriage, breaking infertility stigma, and raising awareness on diabetes and hypertension.
“We plan to reproduce 140,000 additional copies of the storybooks for distribution to public school libraries nationwide through the Federal Ministry of Education.”
Prof. Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Merck Foundation, said healthcare capacity building remained one of the most sustainable ways to improve health outcomes and prepare countries for future public health challenges.
He reiterated that the foundation would continue to support countries through medical training, education and social development programmes.
In his remarks, Director of the Tata Memorial Centre, India, Prof. Sudip Gupta, said the institution’s partnership with the Merck Foundation has produced 141 oncology specialists from 27 African countries since 2016.
“The impact extends far beyond the duration of training.
“Many of these specialists have returned home to provide services that were previously unavailable in their countries, improving access to cancer care for thousands of patients,” he said.
He added that Tata Memorial Centre, one of India’s leading cancer institutions, remained committed to expanding collaboration with African and Asian countries to improve access to quality cancer care.
Participants at the event reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening partnerships in healthcare, education, women’s empowerment and social development across Africa and Asia.
The Merck Foundation Africa-Asia Luminary serves as an annual platform for reviewing progress, sharing experiences and advancing collaborative efforts aimed at improving health outcomes and social wellbeing across participating countries.
