By Ebere Agozie
Nigerian’s First Lady, Mrs Oluremi Tinubu, says Merck Foundation’s doctors scholarships would improve public healthcare outcome in Nigeria.
Mrs Tinubu said this at her debut appearance at the 7th edition of the Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative Summit on Wednesday.
She noted that 63 Nigerian doctors have benefited from various scholarships under the Merck Foundation programmes which include training in fertility care, diabetes management, cardiology, psychiatry, and other underserved specialties.
“ Efforts are ongoing to tackle diabetes in Nigeria through the Diabetes Blue Program, under which 39 Nigerian doctors have received advanced training.
“An additional 16 doctors have been trained in specialties like acute medicine, respiratory care, and critical care.
“Upon completing their training, these doctors will establish clinics in their communities, providing essential healthcare services.
“This is a vital step towards improving public health outcomes in Nigeria, and I am committed to expanding this programme through my office and the Ministry of Health,” she pledged.
She commended the Merck Foundation’s efforts in building healthcare capacity and promoting social development across Africa and Asia, noting their impact, especially in Nigeria.
`I am honoured to join my dear sisters, the First Ladies of Africa and Asia, in championing the “More Than a Mother” campaign which addresses critical issues such as infertility stigma, and empowers women.
“I thank Merck Foundation for their visionary leadership and congratulate them on their 8th anniversary’.
She commended the Merck Foundation’s Educating Linda initiative, which sponsors underprivileged girls, and in line with her Renewed Hope Initiative that prioritises girl-child education.
“Education is the cornerstone of progress.
“Through collaborations with the African Union Development Agency, we have supported scholarships and established 40 alternative high schools for girls who dropped out due to early marriage or pregnancy.
“These schools offer a second chance for these young women to achieve their dreams’’.
She expressed optimism about strengthening partnerships with the Merck Foundation, particularly in addressing gender-based violence, female genital mutilation, child marriage, and health issues such as hypertension and infertility stigma.
In her welcome address, the Chief Executive Officer of the Merck Foundation, Dr Rasha Kalej, noted that their efforts to strengthen healthcare systems have directly improved the lives of millions.
She said that the summit underscored the power of collaboration in tackling pressing health and social challenges.
“Our scholarships in over 44 critical specialties are addressing Africa’s dire shortage of medical specialists, and we are proud of the significant impact this has made.
“We provided almost 1000 scholarships for girls in more than 17 countries in partnership with the First Lady’’.
The Chairman of the Merck Foundation Board of Trustees, Prof. Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp, commended the First Ladies’ commitment to healthcare and social development.
Stangenberg-Haverkamp noted that the foundation’s programmes, such as the scholarship initiative, are transforming healthcare in underserved regions by building a generation of specialists.
He said that the lack of financial resources was not the only challenge facing Africa, but the scarcity of trained healthcare providers capable of effectively preventing, diagnosing and managing diseases.
He lamented that the sweeping shortage of medical and healthcare personnel has been one of the most critical barriers to accessing quality health care across the continent.
“Together with partners, we have significantly strengthened healthcare capacity by providing 2270 scholarships of one year and two year master degrees to doctors from 52 countries across 44 critical and underserved medical specialties.
