The First Ladies of Niger and the Central African Republic congratulate the winners of the Merck Foundation Media Prize 2021

The Merck Foundation (https://Merck-Foundation.com) and African First Ladies have announced applications for 2 new 2022 award categories for media, musicians, fashion designers, filmmakers, students and new potential talent in these fields; Merck Foundation More Than Mother Awards 2022 to address issues such as: eliminating the stigma of infertility, supporting girls’ education, ending child marriage, ending FGM, ending GBV and/or empowering women at all levels; Merck Foundation Diabetes and Hypertension Awards 2022 promoting a healthy lifestyle and raising awareness about the prevention and early detection of diabetes and hypertension.

CEO of the Merck Foundationphilanthropic division of Merck KGaA Germany, celebrated the felicitation ceremony held by BRIGITTE TWADERA, First Lady of Central Africa and Ambassador of the Merck Foundation “More Than a Mother” and HE BAZUM HADIZA MABRUK, First Lady of Niger and Ambassador of Linda’s Education reward Art Winners of the 2021 Merck Foundation Media Recognition Awards from their countries.

Senator Dr. Rasha Kelley, CEO of the Merck Foundation and President of More Than a Mother expressed: “I am grateful to my dear sisters BRIGIT TOUDERA, First Lady of the Central African Republic (CAR) & Merck Foundation “More Than a Mother” and HE BAZUM HADIZA MABRUK, First Lady of Niger and Ambassador of Linda’s Education, for conducting the award ceremony and personally handing out medals and certificates to the winners, who became graduates of the Merck Foundation. I once again congratulate the winner from CAR and Niger respectively and appreciate all the efforts they have made to be the voice of the voiceless to raise awareness of sensitive social and cultural issues such as the stigma of infertility, support for girls’ education and health issues, such as adapting the best protection measures during the coronavirus last year.”

The Merck Foundation, encouraged by valuable media contributions, further rewarded the winners by providing them with one-year access to an online educational training program called “Master class”. Master class is an exciting online self-study course that can be accessed anywhere there is an internet connection.

The Merck Foundation in partnership with CAR First Lady provided 5 scholarships to young local doctors in the branches of Oncology and Diabetes mellitus. One female doctor completed the Merck Foundation oncology program and became the first gynecologist-oncologist in the CAR. In their composition “Linda’s Learning” The Merck Foundation also provided 3,000 sets of essential school supplies for girls in the CAR.

In addition, the Merck Foundation in partnership with The First Lady of Niger provided 25 scholarships young doctors in the fields Oncology, Fertility and Embryology and Diabetes Management. Under them “Linda’s Learning” The Merck Foundation also provided 3,000 kits of essential school supplies to girls in Niger.

Winners from Central African Republic in partnership with Her Excellency Brigitte Tuadera, First Lady of the Central African Republic and Ambassador of the Merck Foundation “More Than a Mother” are:

MERCK FOUNDATION MEDIA RECOGNITION MEANS ‘MORE THAN A MOTHER’ 2021

PRINT CATEGORY

FIRST POSITION:

• Isa Musa, Niger Times, NIGER

ONLINE CATEGORY

FIRST POSITION:

• Koami Agbetiafa, Niger Inter Hebdo, NIGER

MERCK FOUNDATION RECOGNITION 2021 MEDIA RECOGNITION

PRINT CATEGORY

FIRST POSITION:

• Koami Agbetiafa, Niger Inter Hebdo, NIGER

Winners from Niger in partnership with HE MRS. BAZUM HADIZA MABRUK, First Lady of Niger and Linda Education Ambassador are:

MERCK FOUNDATION MEDIA RECOGNITION MEANS ‘MORE THAN A MOTHER’ 2021

RADIO CATEGORY

FIRST POSITION:

• Shela Claudia Yemengali, Central African Radio, CAR

SECOND position:

• Stefan KocanzoCentral African Radio, CAR

MERCK FOUNDATION RECOGNITION 2021 MEDIA RECOGNITION

ONLINE CATEGORY

FIRST POSITION:

Senator Rush Kelley further added: “In partnership with my dear sisters, the African First Ladies, I am pleased to announce the acceptance of applications from the media, musicians, fashion designers, filmmakers, students and new potential talents in these fields for two categories of awards. You can share your work with us at [email protected]“.

Award details:

1. 2022 Merck Foundation “More Than Mother” Media Recognition to address issues such as: eliminating the stigma of infertility, supporting girls’ education, ending child marriage, ending FGM, ending wildebeest and empowering women at all levels.

2. 2022 Merck Diabetes and Hypertension Foundation Media Recognition promoting a healthy lifestyle and raising awareness about the prevention and early detection of diabetes and hypertension

Last date of submission: October 30, 2022

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of the Merck Foundation.

Media contact:
Mehak Khanda
Community Outreach Program Manager
+91 9310087613/ +91 9319606669
[email protected]

Join the conversation on our social media platforms below to make your voice heard:
Facebook: bit.ly/3vKE8O2
Twitter: bit.ly/2TeOQNj
YouTube: bit.ly/3zc3up1
Instagram: bit.ly/3g6OYr3
Flickr: bit.ly/2Tay0Pu
Website: Merck-Foundation.com
Download the Merck Foundation app: bit.ly/3v7pf5Z

About Merck Foundation More Than Mother:
The Merck Foundation More Than Mothers is a powerful movement that aims to empower infertile women through access to information, education and mindset change. This powerful campaign helps define policies and interventions to build quality and equitable capacity for reproductive care and fertility care, eliminate the stigma of infertility, and raise awareness of infertility prevention and male infertility. In partnership with African first ladies, ministries of health, information, education and gender, academia, policymakers, international fertility societies, media and the arts, the initiative also provides training for fertility specialists and embryologists to build and develop capacity to care for birth rate in Africa and in the development of the country.

Through Merck’s More Than Mother Foundation, we initiated a cultural shift to destigmatize infertility at all levels: by raising awareness, training local fertility care experts and the media, creating advocacy in collaboration with African first ladies and women -leaders and supporting childless women in opening their own small business. It’s all about giving every woman the respect and help she deserves to live a fulfilling life, with or without a child.

Merck Foundation More than Mother Ambassadors:

The Merck Foundation has launched innovative new initiatives to educate local communities about infertility prevention, male infertility to de-stigmatize infertility and empower infertile women through Merck Foundation’s MORE THAN A MOTHER OUTREACH CAMPAIGN such as;

• Merck Foundation More Than Mother Africa Media Recognition Awards and Health Media Training
• The Merck Foundation is More Than a Mother Fashion Awards.
• The Merck Foundation Film Awards are more than a mother
• Merck Foundation More than a Mother Song Award
• Local songs with local artists to tackle cultural perceptions of infertility and how to change it
• A collection of children’s stories localized for each country

About the Merck Foundation:
The Merck Foundation, established in 2017, is the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany, dedicated to improving people’s health and well-being and improving their lives through science and technology. Our efforts are primarily focused on improving access to quality and equitable health solutions in underserved communities, building health and research capacity, and empowering people in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) ) with special attention to women and youth. All Merck Foundation press releases are distributed by email at the same time they are made available on the Merck Foundation website. Please visit Merck-Foundation.com to read more. To learn more, please visit our social media: The Merck Foundation (Merck-Foundation.com); Facebook (bit.ly/32YFKpv), Twitter (bit.ly/2TeOQNj), Instagram (bit.ly/3g6OYr3), YouTube (bit.ly/3zc3up1) and Flickr (bit.ly/2Tay0Pu).