Merck Foundation top official salutes First Lady’s works. . . as learners get scholarships First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa who is also Merck Foundation More than A Mother Ambassador and Merck Foundation chief executive officer Dr Rasha Kelej exchange gifts during a courtesy call at Zimbabwe House yesterday.

Tendai Rupapa

Senior Reporter

GERMAN-based Merck Foundation chief executive, Dr Rasha Kelej, who is partnering First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa in her various empowerment programmes especially health sector, arrived on her maiden visit to Zimbabwe and the foundation’s Zimbabwe Alumni Summit.

Dr Mnangagwa is the Merck More Than a Mother ambassador in Zimbabwe.

It was the first time the summit was being held face-to-face as for two years it was held virtually because of Covid-19 restrictions.

Hundreds of Zimbabwean doctors have benefited from scholarships offered under the partnership and so have journalists who have sharpened their skills in reporting on sensitive issues like infertility and stigma around the subject.

Yesterday, Dr Mnangagwa rolled out a red carpet welcome for Dr Kelej and her team in honour of their thriving partnership which has immensely benefited medical practitioners and journalists through scholarships.

 

First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa receives a recognition award for her sterling efforts as Merck Foundation More than A Mother Ambassador in uplifting the lives of ordinary, underprivileged, elderly and marginalised people all over Zimbabwe from Merck Foundation Chief Executive Officer Dr Rasha Kelej at State House yesterday.

The partnership between the First Lady and Merck Foundation yesterday saw 20 academically gifted children from disadvantaged families drawn from all the country’s provinces receiving scholarships. 

Doctors and journalists who benefited from the partnership gave testimonials on what they studied and how this would help the nation.

During the courtesy call at Zimbabwe house, Dr Kelej paid glowing tribute to the First Lady and acknowledged her efforts in improving the status of women and fighting stigma around infertility.

“It’s a great honour to have you as an ambassador of Merck Foundation More than a mother campaign and the efforts you have done in the media and platforms to break the stigma has been amazing because all the time I look at Google, you have an article to encourage women and break the stigma around them and encouraging them to go and get educated and have a different purpose in life. It’s really amazing,” she said. 

So fruitful has been the partnership that many doctors from Zimbabwe have been trained in diabetes, oncology and infertility, among many disciplines.

Journalists have, through the foundation, received in-depth training in reporting on infertility to remove the associated stigma. 

Besides improving the status of beneficiaries, the scholarships also help improve health service delivery in the country.

Dr Mnangagwa thanked her guest for making the trip to Zimbabwe.

“I am so happy that finally you came to Zimbabwe. We have done so much through the partnership that we are in. I want to thank you so much that you put a lot of effort in my partnership with you to help Zimbabwe through my office. We have doctors, journalists, and artists who have benefited immensely. Through the partnership we have also come up with textbooks books that have been distributed to schools to educate our young children on various topics.

“We are also saying parents should also read those books so that they continue talking to their children when they go to school about Covid-19 and the importance of education,” she said. Looking at issues surrounding infertility, it hits hard mainly on women because they are labelled as the failure in the family when they are married. We have initiated some income generating projects for them so that they become self-reliant. We have brought them together where they have narrated their stories, what they have gone through in order to have babies. 

“This is also causing some more health problems for them because some are consuming unhealthy things so as to get pregnant.

First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa who is also Merck Foundation More than A Mother Ambassador and Merck Foundation chief executive officer Dr Rasha Kelej pose with school children who received scholarships through the partnership of Angel of Hope Foundation and Merck Foundation at State House yesterday

Local doctors, she said, have gone through training in diabetes, oncology and cardiovascular diseases. “They have put a lot of effort to pass and we have journalists who have also written and advocated for this infertility and are also taking part in awareness programmes. We are also saying the journalists are the mouthpiece of what is happening in families and around the country,” the First Lady said.

Deputy Minister of Health and Child Care, Dr John Mangwiro, who was also in attendance during the courtesy call described the Merck Foundation scholarships as beneficial and emphasised their importance in the wake of a surge in illnesses like diabetes.

“Looking at the courses that they are churning out like diabetes, from 1980 to 95 diabetes was 5 percent, from 1995 to 2005 it was 10 percent. So it is growing because of this rural to urban migration. And like you have rightfully said, I was looking at the doctors doing this and the physicians which means there was a very big gap in diabetes management. In reproductive health, diabetes plays a huge part such as children who are born with spinal bipedal and defects, the mothers are usually diabetic. Diabetic people have 20 percent or 20 times more chances of developing cancer than non-diabetics. So this disease needs to be managed properly. In actual fact we didn’t have any diabetologists but with all these coming through the training they are receiving, clinics can be opened even in rural areas and everyone is looked after. As a ministry we would like to thank our ambassador Dr Mnangagwa for making this possible,” he said.

From Zimbabwe House, the First Lady led her guests to the State House where doctors, journalists from various media houses, school children and their parents were in attendance.

Dr Kelej hailed the mother of the nation as a great leader and partner.

“I am here in Zimbabwe although it is still difficult to travel abroad due to the coronavirus but only for her because she is a great partner and a great leader. The amount of effort and dedication and communication we had during coronavirus with Dr Mnangagwa is commendable. When Covid-19 hit, we said we are not going to stop, we are going to go ahead with our programmes and we have seen First Lady Mnangagwa going to the people,” she said.

Dr Kelej showered praises on the First Lady for always leading from the front and zeal to make things happen.

“Can you imagine in 2020 and 2021 when everyone was busy and overwhelmed with that coronavirus and other things, she continued with her roles and responsibility towards raising awareness against Covid-19 in her country,” she said.

She said this year, her foundation approached the First Lady to offer scholarships to underprivileged but academically gifted young girls.

In her remarks, the First Lady said yesterday’s programme also sought to celebrate the success and impact of the programmes under the partnership.

She chronicled how the journey began in 2019 when she met other African First Ladies at the invitation of Merck Foundation. 

First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa who is also Merck Foundation More than A Mother Ambassador and Merck Foundation Chief Executive Officer Dr Rasha Kelej pose with journalists who won the Merck Foundation media recognition awards at State House yesterday.

“We are here today to meet our Merck Foundation Zimbabwe alumni and Merck Foundation Media Recognition awards winners hence to follow up and discuss our joint programmes. Dr Kelej I want to say these are the people of Zimbabwe who I always work with,” she said.

The First Lady implored the alumni to work hard in their various fields and focus on their studies.

“I want to hear what you have done and what you have achieved in your career. You know what you are doing, so study hard. The opportunity has come.”

The mother of the nation also had words for the parents of children who were awarded scholarships.

“Make sure you do not embarrass us. We will want to gather again and hear that which you will have achieved. I am promising my dear sister here that the girls that you see are going to excel and they are not going to embarrass us. Mothers, you must encourage these children and make sure they return from school and study hard. If you do not do that, all our efforts will be in vain.”

Speaking at the same occasion, World Health Organisation (WHO) representative Dr Alex Gasasira applauded the Angel of Hope Foundation, the Merck Foundation and the Ministry of Health and Child Care for the partnership to build the capacity of medical professionals in Zimbabwe.

Dr Mangwiro said he greatly appreciated the long-term partnership with Merck Foundation and their commitment to transform patient care through building healthcare and media capacity and reshape the public healthcare sector of the country by providing around 100 scholarships to healthcare providers in many medical underserved and critical specialties in Zimbabwe.

“Moreover, I would like to acknowledge the Merck Foundation More Than a Mother campaign to empower infertile and childless women through access to information, education, health and change of mindset.

“I feel proud to announce that, together with Her Excellency the First Lady of Zimbabwe Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa and the Ministry of Health and Child Care, Merck Foundation has provided scholarships to our young doctors in many critical and underserved specialties in the following areas:

Fertility & Embryology, Oncology, Diabetes, Preventive Cardiovascular, Endocrinology, Sexual & Reproductive Medicine, Respiratory Medicine and Acute Medicine, and Clinical Microbiology and infectious diseases.”

This came as doctors who received scholarships under the Merck Foundation gave their testimonials.

The doctors included Dr Mugove Madziyire who studied Advanced Infertility and Reproduction Technology (ART) Course at Indira Fertility Academy in Udaipur, Rajasthan India. The course commenced on the 17th of November 2019 and finished on the 7th of February 2020. 

He also did a Diploma in Sexual and Reproductive Health course with the University of South Wales and is currently doing a Msc in Sexual and Reproductive Health with the University of South Wales. 

 

Dr Amanda Thakataka, a public health practitioner, recently completed an MSc in Preventative Cardiovascular Medicine, courtesy of the programme. 

A learner, Shalom Chisadza from Mutoko who benefited from the scholarship thanked the First Lady saying; “I am humbled and elated at the same time by the philanthropic work being done by our loving, caring and empathetic mother, Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa. We thank you that you have made us realise that we were born for a purpose and to make a difference in this world. You have transformed and elevated the girl child in Zimbabwe and you have become such an epitome of a true mother not only in Zimbabwe, but internationally as reflected in the recent conferment of your doctorate in India. This encourages us as girl children that hard work and love can take us far. Matirangarira Amai, mune rudo, mune tsitsi. Rambai muchiita sezvamatiitira musanete,” she said to applause.

Mr Edward Shumba, the director Secondary Education in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education also showered the First Lady with praises for her benevolence and scholarships rolled out for the girl child.

Speaking on behalf of journalists, Mrs Catherine Murombedzi, said informed media had better outcomes.

“The last two years when we were under lockdown, the media became an important source of information. First was the healthcare point, because of the restrictions, people were not able to access the healthcare point. And during that time we came together, it was a blessing in disguise that virtual life became a source of education. We are grateful to the First Lady for that role she has taken as the ambassador for health and Merck more than a mother. As Zimbabweans we all know how hardworking she is. It is only today that she is seated but every other day she is right there in the areas that you call hard to reach. She is found there being with the people. So we are very grateful as the media. We are grateful for the 2019 health media training that you held in partnership with Merck Foundation. We are also grateful to the Merck Foundation. The health sector, we will remain grateful for the role that you played during the Covid-era. We were all back there in our homes but you were right there in the risky areas. As media we are growing from strength to strength and an informed media is what is required for better health outcomes so thank you for giving us and making us the bridge to manage better health outcomes for everyone in Zimbabwe and we are grateful that primary healthcare is taken so seriously in Zimbabwe because with primary healthcare, everything will fall into place,“ she said.

Journalists from various media houses who won the Merck media recognition awards received their medals and certificates.

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