Dakar, Senegal: Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany plans to conduct 5th Edition of ‘Merck Africa Asia Luminary’ under the patronage of The President of The Republic of Senegal, H.E. MACKY SALL and The First Lady of Senegal, H.E. MARIEME FAYE SALL, and in partnership with the Ministry of Health of Senegal.

Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation emphasized, “Merck Foundation is very proud to welcome our guests of honor and keynote speakers, The First Ladies of 14 African Countries; H.E. First Lady of Benin, H.E. First Lady of Botswana, First Lady of Burkina Faso, H.E. First Lady of Burundi, H.E. First Lady of Central African Republic, H.E. First Lady of Chad, H.E. First Lady of Gambia, H.E. First Lady of Ghana, H.E. First Lady of Guinea –Bissau, H.E. First lady of Lesotho, H.E. First Lady of Niger, H.E. First lady of Sierra Leone and H.E. First Lady of Zambia. Together we will work on strong strategy to build healthcare capacity and provide the necessary training to establish a strong platform of experts in Diabetes, Hypertension, Cancer and Fertility care in their countries in collaboration with their offices and ministries of health.”

“During the conference, Merck Foundation will also celebrate two important occasions; the 350th Anniversary of Merck, the World’s Oldest Pharmaceutical & Chemical Company established in 1668 and the 1st Anniversary of Merck Foundation,” Dr. Kelej added.

The President of The Republic of Senegal, H.E. MACKY SALL will deliver his address and closing remarks on the Day 2 of the conference.

The First Lady of Senegal, H.E. MARIEME FAYE SALL will deliver the keynote speech along with

H.E. CLAUDINE TALON, The First Lady of Benin;

H.E. NEO JANE MASISI, The First Lady of Botswana;

H.E. SIKA BELLA KABORÉ, The First Lady of Burkina Faso;

H.E. DENISE NKURUNZIZA, The First Lady of the Republic of Burundi;

H.E. BRIGITTE TOUADERA, The First Lady of Central Africa Republic;

H.E. HINDA DEBY ITNO, The First Lady of Chad;

H.E. MADAME FATOUMATTA BAH-BARROW, The First Lady of The Gambia;

H.E. REBECCA NAA OKAIKOR AKUFO-ADDO, The First Lady of Ghana;

H.E. ROSA GOUDIABY VAZ, The First Lady of Guinea Bissau;

H.E. MAESAIAH THABANE, The First Lady of Lesotho;

H.E. AISSATA ISSOUFOU MAHAMADOU, The First Lady of Niger;

H.E. FATIMA MAADA BIO, The First Lady of Sierra Leone;

H.E. ESTHER LUNGU, The First Lady of Zambia;

Twohigh-level Ministerial panels will also take place.

The first high-level Ministerial panel on ‘Building Fertility care capacity and breaking the Infertility Stigma in Africa and Asia’ will involve Hon. Abdoulaye Diouf SARR, Minister of Health and Social Action of Senegal; Hon. Sarah Opendi, Minister of State for Health of Uganda; Hon. Dr. Chitalu Chilufya, Minister of Health, Republic of Zambia; Hon. Susan Shabangu, Minister of Social Development, South Africa; Hon. Dr. Rashid A. Aman; Deputy Minister of Health, Ministry of Health of Kenya; Dr. Wim Leereveld, Founder-Access to Medicine Foundation, Chairman Index Initiative building, World Benchmarking Alliance; Prof. Oladapo Ashiru, President of Africa Fertility Society; Prof. Joe Leigh Simpson, Past President of International Federation of Fertility Societies – IFFS; Dr. Kamini Rao, Chairperson of IIRRH, India; Prof. Dr. Satish Kumar Adiga, Professor & Head, Department of Clinical Embryology, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal Academy of Higher Education; Mr. Paolo Carli, Head of Middle East & Africa, Merck Biopharma; Dr. Rasha Kelej, Chief Executive Officer, Merck Foundation.

The second high-level Ministerial panel on ‘The role of Merck Foundation together with Governments to improve access to equitable healthcare solutions in Africa’ will involve Hon. Dr. Idi Illiassou Maïnassara, Minister of Public Health of the Niger; Hon. Aziz Mahamat Saleh Ahmat, Minister of Public Health, of Chad; Hon. Dr. Pierre Somse, Minister of Health and Population, Central African Republic; Hon. Dr. Alpha Tejan Wurie, Minister of Health and Sanitation, of Sierra Leone; Hon. Dr. Thaddée NDIKUMANA, Minister of Health and Fight against Aids, of Burundi; Hon. Dr. Isatou Touray, Minister for Health and Social Welfare, of The Gambia; Hon. Julieta Kavetuna, Deputy Minister of Health and Social Services, of Namibia; Prof. Dr. Kailash Sharma, Dean, Academic Projects, Tata Memorial Centre, India; Prof. Dileep Mhaisekar, Vice Chancellor – Maharastra University of Health Sciences (MUHS) India; Prof. Abdel-Rahman Zekri, Vice Dean – National Cancer Institute, Cairo University; Dr. Rasha Kelej, Chief Executive Officer, Merck Foundation.

Countries participating include: Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroun, Canada, Central Africa Republic, Chad, Congo Brazzaville, Côte D’ivoire, D R of Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gabon, Germany, Ghana, Guinea – Bissau, Guinea Conakry, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherland, Niger, Nigeria, Philippines, Russia, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tanzania, The Gambia, Togo, Tunisia, U.A.E, U.K, U.S.A, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe.