Merck Basis’s (www.MerckFoundation.com) Rasha Kelej marks World Infertility Consciousness Month on the World Infertility Consciousness Summit (WIAS)2024 by way of releasing the primary Animation Movie to lift consciousness about infertility in Africa; Watch “Extra Than a Mom” animation movie right here: https://apo-opa.co/4fEBXlm.
Merck Basis, the philanthropic arm of Merck KgaA Germany and Africa Reproductive Care society (ARCS) collectively performed the Third Version of “World Infertility Consciousness Summit (WIAS) 2024”. The Summit was co-chaired by Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Basis and President of “Extra Than a Mom” Marketing campaign and in addition Chairperson of Africa Reproductive Care Society (ARCS) along with Prof. Oladapo Ashiru OFR, President of Africa Reproductive Care Society (ARCS) and in addition The Nigerian Academy of Medication Specialties.
It was attended by Dr. Edem Hiadzi, Instant previous President of the Fertility Society Of Ghana (FERSOG); Prof. Justin E. MBOLOKO, Instant Previous President, Inter-African Fertility Analysis and Software Research Group (GIERAF) and Dr. Moustapha Thiam, Obstetrician Gynecologist IVF President, Senegal. This summit is performed yearly to mark the world fertility consciousness month and lift consciousness about infertility stigma, male infertility and infertility prevention in Africa and past.
Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej emphasised, “We marked World Fertility Consciousness Month with our Merck Basis Alumni, fertility and reproductive care specialists, presidents of fertility societies and members of Africa Reproductive Care Society (ARCS) and our media companions by way of third Merck Basis “World Infertility Consciousness Summit”.
The summit is a part of our efforts in the direction of elevating consciousness about infertility. particularly male infertility, and to sensitizing communities to finish the stigma related to infertility and empower infertile ladies&{couples} by way of entry to data, training, well being and alter of mindset.
I’m very proud to share that we, at Merck Basis, have offered until at the moment greater than 574 scholarships of Embryology, Fertility and Sexual&Reproductive care to younger docs from 39 completely different nations in Africa and Asia.”
“A lot of our Alumni are educated to be the primary native specialists of their nations, the place they by no means used to have native embryologists or fertility specialists earlier than our program, corresponding to The Gambia, Burundi, Guinea, Chad, Niger, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Malawi, Congo and extra.” Dr. Kelej added.
Throughout this system, Merck Basis showcased their animation movie “Extra Than a Mom”, tailored from their storybook, to emphasise robust household values of affection and respect from a younger age which is able to mirror on eliminating the stigma of infertility and the resulted home violence sooner or later.
“Along with African First Girls, and different necessary companions, we’re making historical past and reshaping the panorama of fertility&Reproductive care throughout Africa and past.” She defined.
Prof. Oladapo Ashiru OFR, President of Africa Reproductive Care Society (ARCS) stated, “Infertility has an awesome psychological influence on the ladies affected by infertility stigma as a consequence of emotional and bodily misery triggered to her. In some instances, ladies additionally undergo bodily and psychological violence and lacks the household help. Infertility isn’t solely a medical situation but additionally a social situation and emotional situation. It’s crucial that the group is knowledgeable and educated in regards to the situation.”
“Infertility could be preventive by adopting numerous measures like switching to a wholesome way of life, quitting smoking, decreasing stress and nervousness, and ending the follow of Feminine Genital Mutilation (FGM).
I recognize the efforts of Merck Basis for breaking the stigma round infertility and in addition elevating consciousness by way of numerous campaigns and efforts round infertility stigma.” He emphasised.
The goals of the Summit had been:
To boost consciousness about infertility particularly male infertility.
To spotlight safety measure in infertility in Africa and growing nations.
To debate the challenges and outline options to enhance entry to high quality and equitable Infertility, Sexual&Reproductive Care through constructing healthcare capability and elevating group consciousness.
Outline interventions to interrupt infertility stigma round ladies and {couples}.
The web program was attended by over 350 individuals together with Merck Basis companions and Alumni who’re future Fertility Specialists, Reproductive and Sexual Care Specialists, and Embryologists, Healthcare Suppliers, Coverage Makers, and Media Professionals from over 25 nations in Africa and past, and over 4500 on-line viewers on our social media platforms. The specialists answered questions from the media.
It was performed beneath Merck Basis “Extra Than a Mom”, a historic motion that defines interventions to construct high quality and equitable Reproductive and Fertility Care Capability, Break Infertility Stigma and Increase Consciousness about Infertility Prevention and Male Infertility.
In accordance with WHO knowledge, greater than 180 million {couples} in growing nations – that’s 1 in each 4 couple, undergo from infertility. In lots of cultures in Africa, infertility is a big stigma. Girls are solely blamed for failing to conceive and the social stigma of childlessness, particularly for girls results in isolation and stigmatization and leads to discrimination and ostracism. This principally additionally results in divorce or bodily or psychological violence. As part of “Extra Than a Mom” Marketing campaign, Merck Basis has launched many initiatives to interrupt this stigma and create a tradition shift.
Furthermore, Merck Basis has educated greater than 3200 media representatives from greater than 35 nations to lift group consciousness and break the stigma round infertility and infertile and childless ladies.
Merck Basis’s pan African TV program “Our Africa”, that’s conceptualized, produced, directed, and co-hosted by Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Basis and options African Style Designers, Singers, and distinguished specialists from numerous domains with the purpose to lift consciousness and create a tradition shift throughout Africa, has many episodes devoted to lift consciousness about infertility and breaking infertility stigma.
Watch the episodes right here:
Episode 3: https://apo-opa.co/46EcfJu
Episode 5: https://apo-opa.co/4fAuXWD
Episode 10: https://apo-opa.co/4fEZR08
Merck Basis has additionally launched about 30 songs, many of those songs have been created with the purpose to interrupt the infertility stigma, as part of their “Extra Than a Mom” marketing campaign.
Hearken to all “Greater than a Mom” songs right here: https://apo-opa.co/4dd6CEH
To handle this necessary situation of breaking infertility stigma and in addition a variety of different social points, Merck Basis yearly launches their ‘Extra Than a Mom’ Awards in partnership with African First Girls, for Media, Style, Movie making, and Musicians, college students, and potential skills in these fields, to create a tradition shift and break the silence about a number of of the next subjects: Breaking Infertility Stigma, Supporting Lady Training, Girls Empowerment, Ending Baby Marriage, Ending FGM, and/ or Stopping GBV in any respect ranges. Entries could be submitted on submit@merck-foundation.com.
Merck Basis additionally conducts MARS Awards to empower African younger researchers&ladies researchers, advancing their analysis capability and promote their contribution to STEM (Science, Expertise, Engineering and Arithmetic).
Particulars of Merck Basis Africa Analysis Summit (MARS) Awards 2024:
Merck Basis Africa Analysis Summit – MARS 2024 can have scientific help from African Union Scientific-Technical and Analysis Fee (AU-STRC); African Reproductive Care Society (ARCS) and Manipal Academy of Larger Training (MAHE).
Theme: The Position of Scientific Analysis in Girls Well being and Reproductive Care
Who can apply:
Abstracts are invited from ultimate yr PhD college students, younger investigators concerned in analysis and Medical Medical doctors in Postgraduate Medical Fellowship program associated to both of the next subjects:
1) Girls Well being
2) Infertility and Reproductive Well being
Learn how to apply: Functions and abstracts could be submitted by clicking on: https://apo-opa.co/4deJYeV
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Merck Basis.
Contact particulars:
Mehak Handa
Group Consciousness Program Supervisor
+91 9310087613/ +91 9319606669
mehak.handa@external.merckgroup.com
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About Merck Basis
The Merck Basis, established in 2017, is the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany, goals to enhance the well being and wellbeing of individuals and advance their lives by way of science and know-how. Our efforts are primarily centered on bettering entry to high quality&equitable healthcare options in underserved communities, constructing healthcare and scientific analysis capability and empowering folks in STEM (Science, Expertise, Engineering, and Arithmetic) with a particular give attention to ladies and youth. All Merck Basis press releases are distributed by e-mail on the similar time they grow to be accessible on the Merck Basis Web site. Please go to www.MerckFoundation.com to learn extra. Comply with the social media of Merck Basis: Fb (https://apo-opa.co/4dBFe2R), Twitter (https://apo-opa.co/3M0SRwI), Instagram (https://apo-opa.co/3WXTehO), YouTube (https://apo-opa.co/3AgTkbP) and Flickr (https://apo-opa.co/3AgU0hn).