John Manzongo in Dubai, United Arab Emirates
FIRST Lady Amai Auxillia Mnangagwa yesterday met Merck Foundation executives during the summit of First Ladies and the foundation offered to train medical personnel from Zimbabwe in various specialities in India starting this year. The meeting is being attended by First Ladies from Guinea Conakry, The Gambia, Botswana, Burundi, Congo-Brazzaville, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Liberia, Mozambique, Mauritania and Malawi .

Amai Mnangagwa, who is the ambassador for maternal and childcare in Zimbabwe, was appointed ambassador for “Merck — More than a Mother” in Zimbabwe to help break the stigma associated with infertility among couples.

In an interview after meeting Merck Foundation chief executive officer Dr Rasha Kelej yesterday, Amai Mnangagwa said she was excited to have clinched a deal that will transform the country’s health sector.

“The breakthrough is the most exciting thing for me and the nation. Merck Foundation got in touch with me sometime last year and I missed the first summit which was held in Senegal but this time I managed to come to Dubai where many First Ladies are attending and some of them joined a long time ago and this is my first time to attend the summit.

“Merck Foundation is bringing training of our doctors, awareness on infertility, training in diabetes and high blood pressure. It is also bringing the empowerment of women, girls and young people.

“I am so excited to be in this programme because it is going to see a major shift and development in our country,” she said.

First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa share a lighter moment with Dr Khomotso Mashilane, Scientific and Medical Director at Merck Foundation (left) Merck Foundation Chief Executive officer Dr Rasha Kelej (2nd from right) and Dr Tatenda Chingonzo clinical oncologist in Zimbabwe after their meeting in Dubai yesterday. (Picture by John Manzongo).

Amai Mnangagwa said Dr Kelej requested to visit Zimbabwe.

“Dr Rasha Kelej also wants to come to Zimbabwe and see what we have done so far and areas that she feels we can strengthen.

“I have also heard from other First Ladies on the impact Merck has been making to people in their countries. I believe it will also enhance my capabilities as I run around in the whole country training, and providing awareness against the stigma. The infertility stigma alone is affecting a lot of women.

“Some of our medical doctors will be going for training in India for months and years and when they return they will do the service to our nation. Media is also going to be trained on how to report and bring awareness to the people to help me in alerting people on the happenings and developments in my activities.

First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa with Merck Foundation Chief Executive officer Dr Rasha Kelej after their meeting in Dubai yesterday. (Picture by John Manzongo).

“The training of cancer ancologists and more doctors in diabetes, blood pressure and prostate cancer will go a long way in assisting our nation. We were mainly dealing with cervical cancer but now we are going to take it to males as well so that they are checked and screened for prostate cancer and diabetes,” she added.

“Merck Foundation training in infertility issues will go a long way in changing people’s perceptions as you are aware that every time if a couple fails to conceive, the blame is immediately placed on the woman just because she comes from a certain area or certain family which will be cursed yet both of them (husband and wife) are equally responsible.

“I have a group in Zimbabwe that is dealing with the issue. I will help them to deal with stigma,” she said.

The First Lady said fashion shows would be held to change society’s perception on infertility.

“We are also going to look at fashion shows where awards will be given to designers and artistes, movie and film makers who will produce dramas and movies that alert our people about the issues affecting our society.”

Dr Kelej said she follows Amai Mnangagwa’s philanthropic works through the media.

First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa flanked by her Zimbabwean delegation Dr Bernard Madzima and Dr Tatenda Chingonzo during a meeting with Merck Foundation Chief Executive officer Dr Rasha Kelej and her delegation in Dubai yesterday. (Picture by John Manzongo).

“We successfully held a meeting here with the First Lady of Zimbabwe to underscore our long-time commitment to Zimbabwean people and building skills capacity with a special focus on ancology, cancer care and diabetes.

“We also discussed how to raise awareness and break the stigma on infertility and also empowering women and girls in education.

“We are happy to have appointed her Excellency the First Lady of Zimbabwe Auxillia Mnangagwa as Ambassador of ‘Merck More than a Mother’ in Zimbabwe to help us break the stigma of infertility, support infertile women and empowering them with information, education, change of mind set,” she said.

Dr Kelej added: “We will also cooperate with her office, her Angel of Hope Foundation and Ministry of Health and Child Care of Zimbabwe to provide training for fertility specialists and embryologists and have the local expertise to empower the affected in Zimbabwe. There is a very important programme called Bluepoints where we are going to launch nationwide an online one-year diabetes diploma from South Wales University of Britain to educate the doctors on how to manage and prevent diabetes through a one-year diploma and the participants will be one from each of the 10 provinces of Zimbabwe.”

The doctors are expected to establish their own diabetes clinics after graduating to help sufferers.

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