Merck is the world’s oldest pharmaceutical and chemical company and has being present in Africa since the late 19th century (active since 1971). A renowned leader in fertility management, they are committed to delivering healthcare services across the continent ever since. Now Merck is launching all over Africa a historic campaign “Merck More Than A Mother”. “We have started the campaign, in Kenya, Uganda and we had kicked off Pan African panels in New York to mark CSW 60, Egypt and Finland at European Society of Human Reproductive and Embryology. As you can see from the photos , ministers of health and gender, senators, parliament members, academia, African association , healthcare providers, all welcomed the campaign and showed their commitments” says Rasha.

Merck is invited to present the campaign at the International Federation of Fertility Societies- IFFS in Delhi, India on 23 rd of September 2016 and will kick off the Merck More Than a Mother campaign in Nigeria on the 27 th of September 2016 in partnership with Africa Fertility Society, Nigerian Parliament and Federal Ministry of Health of Nigeria.

The campaign “Merck More Than a Mother” has birthed two important projects First one is the Africa Embryology Training Program which is very important for improving access to regulated fertility care in the continent. As you may know there are few African embryologists in many of sub- Saharan African Countries, hence it was very critical to establish this platform so as to reduce the cost of IVF and also achieve better quality.

The second one called Empowering Berna where Merck help infertile women who cannot have children anymore to start their own independent businesses and live happier lives. 

This campaign will make a huge difference because it covers most, if not all, of the relevant angles of the infertility in the continent, such as :

1-Create a culture shift to respect and appreciate the infertile women in Africa

2- Raise awareness about infertility prevention and management and male infertility by integrating it into

healthcare infrastructure such as HIV, maternal health and mother and child programs.

3- Education and training for African embryologists since lack of trained and skilled staff is a big challenge, and

we have started our first training for African embryologists to improve access to effective and safe fertility care

in the continent.

4- Defining ART policies to improve access to regulated fertility care.

5- Building advocacy and open dialogue with governments, policy makers, parliaments, healthcare providers

and media to define interventions to reduce the social suffering and improve access to regulated, effective and

safe fertility care in Africa.

6- Empowering infertile women through access to awareness, health and change of mindset and empower

women who cannot be pregnant anymore through starting a small business for them to build their independent

and happy lives through “Empowering Berna“ Initiative.

Join The Campaign – Together We Create A Culture Shift

“I would like to ask you to take a moment and watch the campaign’s videos and TV interviews and join the “Merck More than a Mother” social media campaign to reduce stigma, create awareness and define interventions to improve access to better fertility care in Africa”. Says Rasha Kelej

”Let your voice be heard on” Rasha adds.