Over 2,600 medical scholarships awarded as foundation marks 13th Africa Asia Luminary Conference Healthcare leaders, policymakers, medical experts and First Ladies from across Africa and Asia gathered this week for the 13th edition of the Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary, an annual platform that has become one of the continent’s most influential forums for advancing healthcare capacity, women’s empowerment and social transformation. Held virtually on 18 and 19 June 2026, the conference brought together First...

The Botswana Congress Party (BCP) finds itself grappling with internal discord after postponing the adoption of its recently amended constitution. Insider sources reveal that the delay results from escalating tensions surrounding a contentious clause that delineates the role of the party’s Vice President in the event the BCP assumes national power.   Earlier this month at the Francistown party conference, the constitution was amended, yet the revised document remains undistributed to members and has not...

The Merck Foundation’s influence on Botswana’s healthcare system continues to grow as an increasing number of professionals return from advanced training, prepared to confront pressing medical challenges. Among these dedicated individuals is Dr. Tochukwu Chidiebere Umunnakwe, who recently completed a distinguished Gynecology Oncology Fellowship through the esteemed Merck Foundation program in 2025. Driven by a deep-seated passion for gynecology and sexual reproductive health, Dr. Umunnakwe embarked on this fellowship after witnessing the harrowing consequences of...

Infertility remains one of Botswana’s most unspoken yet profoundly heart-wrenching health challenges. Despite ongoing progress in maternal and child healthcare, countless women and couples across the nation continue to grapple silently with the pain of conception’s elusive promise. At the forefront of this fight is Dr. Ntshonga-Taylor, a 2022 graduate of the Merck Foundation’s MSc in Sexual and Reproductive Health program. Her journey is one marked by unwavering dedication, empowerment, and an unwavering mission to...

In many parts of Africa, struggling to have children isn’t just a private heartbreak—it’s a heavy social burden that cuts deep into families and communities. Infertility carries a weight far beyond biology; it’s tangled up with harsh judgment, isolation, and even economic hardship. At a recent media health training hosted by the Merck Foundation, Dr. David Mwesigye, a specialist in women’s health and fertility from Rwanda, spoke with urgency about the need to change how...

In a landmark community empowerment event held in the northwestern village of Shakawe, the Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (BUAN), in collaboration with the Embassy of the Republic of Türkiye, officially launched a joint agricultural support initiative aimed at boosting small-scale horticulture through climate-resilient practices and modern farming equipment. The ceremony was graced by the Vice Chancellor of BUAN, Professor Ketlhatlogile Mosepele, and His Excellency Ahmet Idem Akay, the Ambassador of Türkiye to...

Botswana is facing a grim and escalating crisis of gender-based violence (GBV) that has reached a breaking point, with the Alliance for Progressives (AP) Women’s League declaring it a national emergency in a recent press statement. The statistics paint a harrowing picture: nearly 70% of women in Botswana have experienced some form of GBV during their lifetime, a figure more than double the global average. Yet only a tiny fraction—about 1.2%—of these cases are reported...

Dr Rasha speaks on “Africa First Ladies Initiative,” The story of healthcare transformation in Africa is often told through statistics and grim headlines: a continent burdened with 24% of the global disease load yet staffed by a mere fraction of the world’s healthcare workers. But behind the numbers lies a narrative of hope and relentless commitment, shaped by visionary leadership and bold partnerships. At the heart of this movement stands Dr. Rasha Kelej, Chairperson of...