Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA, Germany, recently held the 7th Edition of the Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative (MFFLI) Summit 2025. The event was inaugurated by Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp, Chairman of Merck Foundation Board of Trustees; Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation & President of MFFLI; and H.E. Dr. DÉBORA KATISA CARVALHO, First Lady of Cabo Verde & Ambassador of Merck Foundation More Than a Mother. The summit brought together First Ladies from Angola, Central African Republic, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Maldives, Mozambique, Nigeria, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, and Zimbabwe.
Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej shared:
“It was great meeting my dear sister H.E. Dr. DÉBORA KATISA CARVALHO, The First Lady of Cabo Verde and the Ambassador of Merck Foundation More Than a Mother during the Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative Summit 2025. Together we have started to provide scholarships for young doctors in the fields of Oncology and Fertility, and they will soon begin their programs. This marks an important milestone for us in building healthcare capacity in Cabo Verde. We also signed an MoU to underscore our long-term partnership and to continue our programs in the country.”
H.E. Dr. DÉBORA KATISA CARVALHO added:
“It was indeed a great pleasure to be a part of the prestigious conference together with my dear sisters, First Ladies of Africa and Asia, and hearing from them about the impact of Merck Foundation programs in their respective countries. I am proud to share that we have initiated the Merck Foundation Scholarships Program and have enrolled our doctors for Oncology and Fertility Training programs. Moreover, I am very happy that we have also started the Educating Linda program in our country, through which we have awarded scholarships to 42 of our students nationwide, enabling them to complete their education and unlock their full potential. I believe that education is the foundation of every thriving nation. Hence, these scholarships are of great importance to us.”
The summit reinforced Merck Foundation’s commitment to advancing healthcare and education through impactful collaborations with First Ladies across Africa and beyond.