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 Ladies from 12 African and Asian countries alongside healthcare professionals and development partners to review progress made in strengthening health systems and addressing critical social and health challenges.
The conference was inaugurated by Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp, Chairman of the Merck Foundation Board of Trustees, and Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej (Ret.), Chief Executive Officer of Merck Foundation and Chairperson of the Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary.
Among the distinguished participants was Botswana’s First Lady, Mrs. Kaone Boko, who joined fellow First Ladies from Angola, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Gabon, The Gambia, Kenya, Liberia, Maldives, Mozambique, Nigeria and São Tomé and Príncipe as Guests of Honour and keynote speakers.
Addressing delegates, Dr. Kelej underscored the importance of collaboration in tackling healthcare disparities and social stigma across developing countries.
“It is a great privilege to welcome our distinguished Guests of Honour and Keynote Speakers, the First Ladies of Africa and Asia, who are the Ambassadors of our ‘More Than a Mother’ campaign,” she said.
“Together, we exchanged valuable experiences and engaged in meaningful discussions on the impact of our programmes, which are aimed at transforming patient care and raising awareness of a wide range of critical social and health issues.”
The annual gathering highlighted the remarkable scale of Merck Foundation’s healthcare capacity-building initiatives. According to the foundation, more than 2,600 scholarships have been awarded to healthcare professionals from 52 countries in 44 critical and underserved medical specialties, helping to address shortages of specialist medical practitioners across Africa and Asia.
Dr. Kelej noted that several scholarship recipients have become the first specialists in their respective countries, contributing significantly to improved healthcare delivery and access to specialised treatment.
“I am proud to share that many of our alumni have become the first specialists in their countries. Together with our Ambassadors and partners, we are making history and transforming the patient-care landscape across Africa, Asia and beyond,” she said.
A major focus of this year’s conference was fertility care and women’s health, coinciding with World Infertility Awareness Month observed annually in June.
Through its flagship “More Than a Mother” campaign, Merck Foundation continues to challenge the stigma often associated with infertility, particularly among women in many developing societies. The initiative seeks to empower women through access to information, healthcare services, education and advocacy aimed at changing societal attitudes.
The foundation revealed that more than 800 scholarships have been dedicated specifically to healthcare providers in fertility, embryology, sexual and reproductive medicine, women’s health, urology, family medicine and related disciplines.
These investments are helping to strengthen fertility-care services and improve access to reproductive healthcare in over 40 countries.
Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp praised the commitment shown by the participating First Ladies and development partners in advancing healthcare access.
“At Merck Foundation, we remain committed to improving health and well-being by building healthcare capacity and providing access to quality and equitable healthcare across Africa, Asia and beyond,” he said.
“Together, we will continue advancing our vision of a world where everyone can lead a healthy and happy life.”
The conference also marked two important milestones: the 9th anniversary of Merck Foundation and 14 years of development programmes initiated by the organisation since 2012.
The opening day featured a high-level panel discussion involving the First Ladies, with participation from more than 800 delegates representing healthcare institutions, governments, academia, media organisations and development agencies from 57 countries. The event was also livestreamed globally, attracting more than 220,000 viewers across social media platforms.
Beyond healthcare training, Merck Foundation continues to invest heavily in education, media engagement and community awareness campaigns designed to tackle deep-rooted social challenges.
The foundation has trained more than 4,000 media professionals across over 42 countries to improve reporting on health and social issues. It has also launched annual awards recognising outstanding journalism, filmmaking, music and fashion projects that promote awareness and behavioural change.
Its social advocacy portfolio includes awareness songs produced in multiple African languages, children’s storybooks, animated films addressing health and social issues, and the Pan-African television programme Our Africa by Merck Foundation, which uses arts and culture to stimulate dialogue on critical issues affecting communities.
In addition, more than 1,550 scholarships have been awarded to schoolgirls from 21 African countries, helping them complete their education through support for tuition, uniforms, books and transportation.
As healthcare systems across Africa continue to face challenges ranging from specialist shortages to rising non-communicable diseases, the Merck Foundation says its long-term strategy remains focused on building local expertise, empowering women and improving access to quality healthcare services.
For Botswana and other participating nations, the conference provided an opportunity to strengthen partnerships, share best practices and reaffirm a collective commitment to advancing health, education and social development across the continent and beyond.