Merck Foundation: 807 scholarships awarded for fertility care training in Africa and Asia on World ART Day

Nairobi, Kenya & Mumbai, Maharashtra, India – Business Wire India

Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany, is marking World Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) Day 2026 alongside African and Asian First Ladies, who serve as Ambassadors of the “Merck Foundation More Than a Mother” Campaign. The Foundation reaffirms its long-term commitment to building and advancing fertility care capacity.

Key Announcement: 807 Scholarships Provided

Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej (Ret.), CEO of Merck Foundation and President of the “More Than a Mother” campaign, stated:

“We mark the World Assisted Reproductive Technology Day together with my dear sisters the African and Asian First Ladies by reshaping the landscape of Fertility & Reproductive care across Africa and beyond.

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I am happy to share that through our ‘Merck Foundation More Than a Mother’ campaign, we have provided 807 scholarships in Fertility, Embryology and Reproductive Care for healthcare providers from 42 countries.

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I am especially proud that many of our alumni have been trained to become the first-ever local embryologists and fertility specialists in their countries, including The Gambia, Burundi, Guinea, Chad, Niger, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Malawi, Congo, and Mozambique — where previously there was not a single local specialist in these critical fields. We are making history.”

Scholarship Breakdown

Merck Foundation has provided more than 2,650 scholarships for healthcare providers from 52 countries across 44 critical and underserved medical specialties.

Of the 807 scholarships provided for Fertility and Reproductive care:

• 365 Scholarships — Clinical and practical training for Fertility and Embryology
• 442 Scholarships — PG Diploma and Master Degree programs in:
• Sexual and Reproductive Medicine
• Clinical Psychiatry
• Women’s Health
• Biotechnology of Human Assisted Reproduction & Embryology
• Urology
• Laparoscopic Surgical Skills
• Family Medicine

These scholarships have been awarded to healthcare providers from 42 countries across Africa and Asia.

About the “More Than a Mother” Campaign

The “Merck Foundation More Than a Mother” campaign is a movement aimed at:

• Breaking infertility stigma
• Empowering women living with infertility through access to information, education, health, and a change of mindset

Over the past 11 years, Merck Foundation has worked closely with over 33 African and Asian First Ladies as Ambassadors of the campaign to:

• Build reproductive and fertility care capacity
• Break infertility stigma
• Support girl education

Addressing Infertility Stigma

In many African cultures, infertility remains highly stigmatized, with women often unfairly blamed for childlessness. This can lead to:

• Discrimination
• Isolation
• Divorce
• Physical or psychological violence

As part of the “More Than a Mother” Campaign, Merck Foundation has launched several initiatives to break this stigma and create a cultural shift.

“Empowering Berna” Initiative

Through the “Empowering Berna” initiative under the “More Than a Mother” campaign, Merck Foundation has empowered women who can no longer be treated for infertility by providing business training to help them become financially independent and rebuild their lives.

The initiative has transformed the lives of many women across several African countries, including:

• Kenya
• Uganda
• Nigeria
• Central African Republic
• Niger
• Malawi
• And more

Media Training and Awareness

Merck Foundation has trained more than 4,000 media representatives from more than 35 countries to raise awareness about:

• Breaking infertility stigma
• Infertility prevention and management
• Male infertility

Children’s Storybook: ‘More Than Mother’

In partnership with African and Asian First Ladies, Merck Foundation has also launched the ‘More Than Mother’ Children’s Storybook, which emphasizes strong family values of love and respect from a young age. The book aims to reflect on eliminating the stigma of infertility and the resulting domestic violence in the future. The storybook has also been adapted to a [format not specified in original text].