From 52 Countries In 44 Specialties: Transforming Patient Care In Africa And Beyond
Merck Foundation and African First Ladies together mark ‘World Health Day’ 2024 in a mission to transform patient care via providing more than 1740 scholarships to doctors from 52 countries in 44 critical and under-served medical specialties.
Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany marks “World Health Day” 2024 together with Africa’s First Ladies who are also Ambassadors of Merck
Foundation “More Than a Mother” Campaign through their Scholarship and Capacity Building Program.
Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation emphasized, “At Merck Foundation, we mark World Health Day every single day of the year over the past 12 years, by building healthcare capacity and transforming patient care across Africa, Asia and beyond.
I am proud to share that Merck Foundation has provided over 1740 scholarships to aspiring young doctors from 52 countries, in 44 critical and underserved medical specialties such as Oncology, Diabetes, Preventative Cardiovascular Medicine, Endocrinology, Sexual and Reproductive Medicine, Acute Medicine, Respiratory Medicine, Embryology & Fertility specialty, Gastroenterology, Dermatology, Psychiatry, Emergency and Resuscitation Medicine, Critical Care, Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Neonatal Medicine, Advanced Surgical Practice, Pain Management, General Surgery, Clinical Microbiology and infectious diseases, Internal Medicine, Trauma & Orthopedics, Neurosurgery, Neurology, Cardiology, Stroke Medicine, Care of the Older Person, Family Medicine, Pediatrics and Child Health, Obesity & Weight Management, Women’s Health, Biotechnology in ART and many more”.
As per the available data, Africa has only 34.6% of the required doctors, nurses, and midwives. It is projected that by 2030, Africa would need additional 6.1 million doctors, nurses, and midwives*.
“For Example, before the start of the Merck Foundation programs in 2012; there was not a single Oncologist, Fertility or Reproductive care specialists, Diabetologist, Respiratory or ICU specialist in many countries such as The Gambia, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Central African Republic, Guinea, Burundi, Niger, Chad, Ethiopia, Namibia among others. We are certainly creating historic legacy in Africa, and also beyond. Together with our partners like Africa’s First Ladies, Ministries of Health, Gender, Education and Communication, we are impacting the lives of people in the most disadvantaged communities in Africa and beyond.”, added Senator Dr. Kelej.
Merck Foundation works closely with their Ambassadors, the African First Ladies and local partners such as; Ministries of Health, Education, Information & Communication, Gender, Academia, Research Institutions, Media and Art in building healthcare capacity and addressing health, social & economic challenges in developing countries and under-served communities.
“I strongly believe that training healthcare providers and building professional healthcare capacity is the right strategy to improve access to equitable and quality at health care in Africa.
Therefore, I am happy to announce the Call for Applications for 2024 Scholarships for young doctors with special focus on female doctors for our online one-year diploma and twoyear master degree in 44 critical and underserved medical specialties, which includes both Online Diploma programs and On-Site Fellowship and clinical training programs. The applications are invited through the Office of our Ambassadors and long-term partners, The First Ladies of Africa and Ministry of Health of each country.” shared Dr . Kelej.
“Our aim is to improve the overall health and wellbeing of people by building healthcare capacity across Africa, Asia and other developing countries. We are strongly committed to transforming patientcare landscape through our scholarships program”, concluded Senator Kelej.
Details of the Scholarships:
ONLINE Diploma Scholarships:
| Sr. No | Duration | Speciality |
| 1 | PG Diploma (1 year) | Diabetes |
| 2 | PG Diploma (1 Year) | Preventative Cardiovascular Medicine |
| 3 | PG Diploma (1 Year) | Sexual and Reproductive Medicine |
| 4 | PG Diploma (1 Year) | Endocrinology |
| 5 | PG Diploma (1 Year) | Respiratory Medicine |
| 6 | PG Diploma (1 Year) | Acute Medicine |
| 7 | PG Diploma (1 Year) | Rheumatology |
| 8 | PG Diploma (1 Year) | Gastroenterology |
| 9 | PG Diploma (1 Year) | Dermatology in Clinical Practice |
| 10 | PG Diploma (1 Year) | Clinical Psychiatry |
| 11 | PG Diploma (1 Year) | Medical Oncology |
| 12 | PG Diploma (1 Year) | Obesity and Weight Management |
| 13 | PG Diploma (1 Year) | Infectious Diseases |
| 14 | PG Diploma (1 Year) | Women’s Health |
| 15 | PG Diploma (1 Year) | Urology |
| 16 | PG Diploma (1 Year) | Family Medicine |
| 17 | PG Diploma (1 Year) | Paediatrics and Child Health |
| 18 | PG Diploma (1 Year) | Pain Management |
| 19 | PG Diploma (1 Year) | Cardiology |
| 20 | PG Diploma (1 Year) | Stroke Medicine |
| 21 | PG Diploma (1 Year) | Neurology |
| 22 | PG Diploma (1 Year) | Neurosurgery |
| 23 | PG Diploma (1 Year) | Care of the Older Person |
| 24 | PG Diploma
(21 months) |
Emergency and Resuscitation Medicine |
| 25 | PG Diploma
(21 Months) |
Laparoscopic Surgical Skills |
| 26 | PG Diploma (2 years) | Neonatal Medicine |
| 27 | PG Diploma (2 years) | Pediatric Emergency Medicine |
| 28 | PG Diploma (2 years) | Primary Care Ophthalmology |
| 29 | PG Diploma (2 Years) | Internal Medicine |
| 30 | PG Diploma (2 Years) | Neuroimaging for research |
| 31 | ChM (2 Years) | Trauma and Orthopedics |
| 32 | ChM (2 Years) | General Surgery |
| 33 | MSc (15 Months) | Biotechnology of Human Assisted
Reproduction and Embryology |
| 34 | MSc (2 years) | Advanced Surgical Practice |
How to Apply:
- Applications can be submitted to: https://merck-foundation.com/Merck-
Foundation-Capacity-Advancement-Application-Form
IN-CAMPUS Fellowship and Training Programs:
| Sr. No | Program and
Duration |
Speciality |
| 1 | Training Program
(3 months) |
Advanced ART and Fertility Specialists |
| 2 | Training Program
(3 months) |
Assisted Reproduction and Embryology |
| 3 | Fellowship Program
(1 Year) |
Diabetes & Hypertension |
| 4 | Fellowship Program
(1 Year) |
Critical Care Medicine |
| 5 | Clinical Training
Program (1 Year) |
Multi-specialties |
| 6 | Clinical Training
Program (1 Year) |
Sub-Specialties of Oncology |
| 7 | Fellowship Program
(1 Year) |
Neurosurgery |
| 8 | ONCOLOGY Fellowship & Training Programs | |
| 8.1 | Fellowship Program
(1 Year) |
Medical Oncology |
| 8.2 | Fellowship Program
(1 Year) |
Gynecological Oncology |
| 8.3 | Fellowship Program
(1 Year) |
Pediatric Medical Oncology |
| 8.4 | Fellowship Program
(1 Year) |
Radiation Oncology |
| 8.5 | Fellowship Program
(1 Year) |
Surgical Oncology |
| 8.6 | Fellowship Program
(1 Year) |
Pain & Palliative Medicine |
| 8.7 | Fellowship Program
(1 Year) |
Pathology Oncology |
| 8.8 | Fellowship Program
(1 Year) |
Hematology Oncology |
| 8.9 | Fellowship Program
(1 Year) |
Interventional Radiology |
| 8.10 | Fellowship Program
(1 Year) |
Surgical Oncology – Breast Surgery |
| 8.11 | Fellowship Program
(1 Year) |
Carcinoma of Breast |
| 8.12 | Fellowship Program
(1 Year) |
Head & Neck Cancer Surgery |
| 8.13 | Training Program | Radiation Technician |
| (3 months) | ||
| 8.14 | Training Program
(3 months) |
Oncology Nursing |
| 8.15 | Training Program
(3 months) |
Oncology Research Training |
| 8.16 | Training Program
(3 months) |
Laboratory Technician |
How to Apply:
Applications can be submitted to:
- Fertility: https://merck-foundation.com/Merck-Foundation-FertilityEmbryology-Fellowship-Scholarship-Online-Form
- Oncology: https://merck-foundation.com/Merck-Foundation-OncologyFellowship-Scholarship-Online-Form
The selection for each scholarship will be based on request by First Lady Office, Ministry of Health and / or Medical Society with the aim to fill the gaps of public healthcare system in each country.
The selection will be based on eligibility criteria fulfillment of each training Institute and Foundation, scholarship availability and fund availability.