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Liberia’s First Lady praises Merck Foundation for helping to empower girls

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-Speaks at a big forum in Ghana

By Garmah Never. Lomo,garmahlomo@gmail.com

ACCRA, Ghana-Liberia’s First lady Clar Marie Weah has underscored progress in educating and empowering girls in Liberia since she got in contact with Merck Foundation in March of this year.

The Liberian First Lady was speaking early this week in the Ghanaian capital during the sixth edition of Merck Africa Asia Luminary and Merck Foundation annual conference.

According Madam Weah, since her first meeting with Merck Foundation in March this year, in less than a year, they have enrolled 13 candidates to benefit from the Merck Foundation one year and two year oncology fellowship and master’s degree program in India and Egypt; in medical oncology, surgical oncology, radiation, gynecology, pediatric oncology and pathology to be the first oncologists forming the first cancer care team in my country.

Madam Weah said her partnership mainly involves working closely to:
empower specifically, infertile women through access to information, education, health and change of mindset, empowering our girls in education through Merck Foundation new program “Educating Linda”, we are very much looking forward to this much needed education program as it will complement part of the work that I envision to do through my Foundation, and specifically with her project, the City of Hope, which is currently under construction.  


The City of Hope is a multi-complex community that will be a home and rehab center for hundreds of girls and young people living in the streets of Liberia.

She further said she is humbled and honored to be part of Merck Foundation’s prestigious platform for the second time this year and to be appointed as the Ambassador of Merck more than a Mother in Liberia. Our partnership involves working closely to:

empower specifically, infertile women through access to information, education, health and change of mindset, empowering our girls in education through Merck foundation new program “Educating Linda,”  We are very much looking forward to this much needed education program as it will complement part of the work that I envision to do through my Foundation, and specifically with my project, the City of Hope, currently under construction.  

The City of Hope, is a multi-complex community that will be a home and rehab center for hundreds of girls and young people living in the streets of Liberia.

Liberia’s First Lady said the massive project will focus primarily on education and It will comprise of dormitories, vocational and academic centers as well as rehabilitation and recreational areas among others, requires a lot of help.

She expressed her warmest gratitude On behalf of the People of Liberia, and welcoming the long term partnership with Merck Foundation to build health care capacity and address our health challenges adding that she is
looking forward to officially launching her partnership in Liberia
through our strong platform, “Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative” and It is their role as First Ladies.

Their role is to establish such strong and long term partnership with serious organizations such as Merck foundation and to capitalize on this opportunity to improve access to quality and equitable healthcare solutions for our respective communities.  

Madam Weah further added: “We are really making history in Liberia together; it is an amazing achievement that will transform the landscape of cancer care in the next few years.  We will have the first graduating class in two years indicating that we have also enrolled 7 doctors and biotechnologists who are training to become the first fertility specialists and embryologists in the country. Hence it supports infertile couples for the first time in Liberia. Two have already graduated and the rest will be graduating next year.”

“We will select more doctors in the next few years as candidates for this training with the aim to establish a strong platform of specialists across the country,” the Liberian First Lady said.

Liberia Ambassador for Merck more than a mother, , they  have launched Merck Health Media training and media recognition awards and are planning to launch in the nearest future, Merck Fashion Awards in Liberia alongside the launch of children story and other innovative projects with the aim to break the stigma around infertile women and  encourage men to speak up about their infertility and support their wives to start a beautiful family…  

More information regarding our official launch will be provided to you in the near future, the Liberian First Lady told the Accra conference.

Once again, we are delighted to partner with Merck Foundation, I am grateful to be here and be part of this high level conference and this very noble campaign. Together we will change the lives of many and make this World a better place.

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