Gabon’s Future Forged: Merck Foundation & First Lady Unveil Multi-faceted Initiative for Health and Empowerment

The State House in Gabon recently became the nexus of a pivotal new chapter in the nation’s development, as the Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany, officially launched its comprehensive partnership programs with the Gabonese Republic. At the heart of this initiative is H.E. Madam ZITA OLIGUI NGUEMA, Gabon’s First Lady, who has also been appointed as the Ambassador for the impactful “Merck Foundation More Than a Mother” campaign. This collaboration, which commenced in 2024, signals a long-term commitment to holistically address critical health and social challenges across the country.

The ambitious programs, spearheaded by the First Lady alongside Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp, Chairman of the Merck Foundation Board of Trustees, and Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation, are designed to profoundly transform patient care, build robust local healthcare capacity, dismantle the pervasive stigma surrounding infertility, empower women, and champion girl education. This multi-pronged approach reflects a deep understanding that societal progress is interconnected, requiring simultaneous advancements in health, education, and social equity.

Marking the official launch and reinforcing the spirit of partnership, Dr. Rasha Kelej shared: “It is a great honor to meet my dear sister, H.E. Madam ZITA OLIGUI NGUEMA, The First Lady of Gabon. We officially declared her as the Ambassador of the ‘Merck Foundation More Than a Mother’ campaign. We also formally launched the Merck Foundation programs in the country and underscored our commitment towards building healthcare and media capacity, patient care landscape transformation, breaking infertility stigma and supporting girl education, together in the country.” This commitment translates into tangible training opportunities for local healthcare providers and broader societal engagement.

Already, sixteen Gabonese healthcare professionals have received scholarships for specialized training, a number highlighted with pride by H.E. Madam ZITA OLIGUI NGUEMA. “I am very proud to share that through our partnership, we have provided 16 scholarships for our local healthcare providers who will be the future healthcare experts of Gabon, who have either graduated, undergoing or will be starting soon the Merck Foundation scholarships of training in critical and underserved specialties such as Fertility, Embryology, Oncology, Diabetes and Hypertension,” the First Lady stated. These scholarships are poised to create a self-sustaining pool of specialists, significantly reducing reliance on external expertise.

The scholarships span critical and often underserved medical fields:

• Fertility and Embryology: Four scholarships, including hands-on practical training in India, have led to the training of the country’s first-ever embryologist, a landmark achievement for reproductive health in Gabon.
• Diabetes & Hypertension: Four professionals are undergoing training, including a specialized 3-month Diabetes Mastercourse in French and a Clinical Fellowship. This will enable them to establish dedicated clinics, significantly improving the prevention and management of these widespread conditions.
• Oncology Nursing: Eight scholarships focus on oncology nursing, a vital area for enhancing cancer care services within the nation.

These targeted interventions are crucial for strengthening Gabon’s healthcare infrastructure, echoing Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg Haverkamp’s broader vision: “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.”

Beyond medical training, the partnership recognizes the transformative power of education, particularly for girls. The “Educating Linda” program provides annual scholarships to 40 high-performing, yet underprivileged schoolgirls, supporting their education until graduation. Dr. Kelej underscored this, saying, “I am also very happy to share that together with The First Lady of Gabon, we are also supporting girl education by providing annual scholarships to support the education of 40 high-performing yet underprivileged schoolgirls, till they graduate, so that they can reach their potentials and achieve their dreams.” She passionately added, “I really believe that when the girls are educated, their countries become more powerful, stronger & prosperous.” Beneficiaries of this program were present at the launch, sharing inspiring testimonies.

Addressing social stigmas and promoting awareness is another key pillar. Merck Foundation, in collaboration with the First Lady, has launched seven children’s storybooks, including “More Than a Mother”, ‘Educating Linda”, “Jackline’s Rescue”, “Not Who You Are”, “Ride into the Future”, “Sugar free Jude” and “Mark’s Pressure”. These engaging narratives tackle sensitive health and social issues for young readers, with thousands of copies slated for distribution to schoolchildren. Furthermore, two editions of Online Health Media Training have been conducted for Gabonese journalists, equipping them to effectively raise awareness on critical topics such as infertility stigma, supporting girl education, stopping Gender-Based Violence (GBV), ending child marriage, FGM, and promoting diabetes and hypertension prevention.

To foster broader engagement and creativity in advocacy, the Merck Foundation has also announced calls for applications for eight annual awards. These awards target Media professionals, Musicians, Fashion Designers, Filmmakers, students, and new talents across Africa. Categories include “Merck Foundation Africa Media Recognition Awards “More Than a Mother” 2026,” “Merck Foundation Film Awards “More Than a Mother” 2026,” “Merck Foundation Fashion Awards “More Than a Mother” 2026,” and “Merck Foundation Song Awards “More Than a Mother” 2026” focusing on social issues like breaking infertility stigma, women empowerment, and ending GBV (submission deadline: September 30, 2026). Additionally, the “Merck Foundation Media Recognition Awards 2026 “Diabetes & Hypertension”,” “Merck Foundation Film Awards 2026 “Diabetes & Hypertension”,” “Merck Foundation Fashion Awards 2026 “Diabetes & Hypertension”,” and “Merck Foundation Song Awards 2026 “Diabetes & Hypertension”” promote healthy lifestyles and awareness (submission deadline: October 30, 2026). This initiative leverages the power of arts and media to amplify crucial public health messages.

This impactful partnership in Gabon is part of the Merck Foundation’s broader global commitment, which has already provided over 2600 scholarships to healthcare providers from 52 countries across 44 critical specialties since its establishment in 2017. By investing in human capital and fostering public awareness through diverse platforms, the Merck Foundation and Gabon’s First Lady are building a foundation for sustainable health and social development. This collaboration exemplifies a powerful model for transforming communities by empowering individuals and strengthening essential services from within.