By: Nyima Sillah
Merck Foundation marks World Cancer Day together with African First Ladies, offering one hundred and forty Oncology scholarships to doctors from twenty-eight African countries.
This was disclosed by the foundation in a press release made on Sunday as the world marked the world cancer day.
The commemoration brought together African First Ladies and Ministries of Health through building cancer care capacity and increasing the limited number of oncologists in their countries by providing more than 140 Scholarships of One-, two- and three-yearsfellowship, diploma and Master Degree of oncology to African doctors from 28 Countries.
Like every year, Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck KGA Germany, marks ‘World Cancer Day 2024’ themed ‘Close the care gap’ together with Africa’s First Ladies and Ministries of Health through their Cancer Access Program to build quality and equitable cancer care capacity in Africa with the aim to increase the limited number of oncologists and develop the first multidisciplinary cancer care teams across the continent.
Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej, the CEO of Merck Foundation, highlighted, “We mark World Cancer Day together with Africa’s First Ladies, not just on a specific day, but every day and every year through transforming and advancing cancer care in Africa by enhancing professional capacity and improving access to high-quality and equitable cancer care throughout the continent.’’ Dr. Kelej remarked. ‘’I am proud to share that Merck Foundation together with African First Ladies is successfully increasing the limited number of Oncologists in Africa by providing 140 scholarships to young African doctor from 28 countries.’’
‘’We are making history together by providing these important scholarships for the first oncologists and /or the first cancer care teams in many countries across Africa”.
‘’Merck Foundation in total provided more than 1700 scholarships to doctors from over 50 countries in 42 critical and underserved medical specialties.
Merck Foundation is committed to leading Africa to a better future through transforming the landscape of Cancer care in the continent”, explained Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej.
As per WHO data, every year, Africa records around 1.1 million new cases of cancer, resulting in up to 700,000 deaths. The mortality rate cancer patients are very high in Africa, as compared to the rest of the world. One of the key reasons is also the late diagnosis of the disease. Moreover, Africa has only 3% of the world’s cancer treatment facilities.
Merck Foundation has also created awareness materials including awareness leaflets and videos on Cancer Prevention and Early Detection.
Dr. Mahamat Saleh Mahamat Baldass, Merck Foundation Oncology Alumni from Chad says, “I am the first Chadian Medical Oncologist of the country. I have benefitted from the One-year Oncology Fellowship training conducted at Tata Memorial Hospital in Mumbai, India, offered to me by Merck Foundation.’’
‘’Two of my colleagues have benefitted from the three-month hands-on training in Oncology Nursing and Onco-pathology. The training I received has helped me in treating cancer patients in my country who either had to travel abroad for treatment (often very expensive), or simply gave up the hope to live. I would like to extend my sincere thanks and appreciation to Merck Foundation for giving me this opportunity,” he added.
Dr. Sylvestre Bazikamwe, Merck Foundation Alumni from Burundi shares, “I have completed One-year Fellowship in Gynae-Oncology from the prestigious Tata Memorial Centre in Mumbai, offered to me by Merck Foundation. I am now working towards a new Gynae-Oncology operating room and am also training my entire team so that we can offer various surgical treatments at the earliest possible.”