Senator Dr Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation with The First Lady of Botswana
KAMPALA —Merck Foundation, a philanthropic organization, has strengthened its partnership with the First Lady of Botswana, Neo Jane Masisi, to launch a suite of initiatives aimed at transforming the patient care landscape, building healthcare capacity, and supporting girl education in Botswana.
The initiatives, which began in 2018, include providing scholarships to local doctors in critical medical specialties such as oncology, diabetes, endocrinology, and fertility, to improve access to quality and equitable healthcare. Additionally, the foundation is supporting girl education through scholarships and bicycles, to encourage girls to continue their education and reach their full potential.
The partnership is also promoting healthcare awareness through media training and awards, to address a wide range of social and health issues such as breaking infertility stigma, supporting girl education, women empowerment, ending child marriage, ending FGM, stopping GBV, diabetes, and hypertension awareness.
During a recent summit, Merck Foundation Chairman and CEO, Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej, met with President Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi and First Lady Neo Jane Masisi to acknowledge alumni and award winners, and emphasize their commitment to the partnership.
The initiatives have already shown tangible results, with 46 scholarships provided to local doctors, transforming the patient care landscape and improving access to quality healthcare. Furthermore, 20 schoolgirls have been sponsored through the “Educating Linda” program, empowering them to reach their full potential. Bicycles have also been provided to encourage girls to continue their education, addressing the challenge of long distances to school.
Various awards have been launched to promote healthcare awareness and girl education, encouraging media, musicians, fashion designers, filmmakers, students, and new potential talents to raise awareness on critical social and health issues.
Merck Foundation has also signed a few copies of their children’s storybooks with the First Lady, aimed at teaching boys to love and respect their future wives, eliminating domestic violence, and promoting a healthy lifestyle.
The partnership aims to improve the overall health and wellbeing of people in Botswana, empower women and girls through education and healthcare, and address a wide range of social and health issues.