The Merck Foundation has organized its first Health Media Training in partnership with the First Lady of Liberia

The Merck Foundation (www.Merck-Foundation.com) is also launching a call for nominations for the 2018 Media Recognition Awards in order to eliminate the stigma badociated with infertility. The Merck Foundation partners with the First Lady of Liberia to build health care capacity in the areas of oncology, fertility and diabetes; The Merck Foundation will present the Merck Fashion Awards, more than a mother, with the goal of involving the local fashion industry in the fight against infertility.

Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany organized its first «Merck Foundation Health Media Training » sure 27^th May 2019 in Monrovia, Liberia in partnership with HE. CLAR WEAH, First Lady of Liberia and Merck Ambbadador more than a mother break the stigma surrounding infertility in Liberia and the rest of Africa

The training program is part ofMerck more than a mother » community outreach program and was organized for the first time in Liberia for local media representatives and media students.

HE. CLAR WEAH, First Lady of Liberia and Merck Ambbadador more than a mother "We welcome this important initiative of the Merck Foundation in our country. The media, if well guided, can bring about a huge change in the current scenario where women are the only ones to blame for infertility. The stigma around infertility must be eliminated.

Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of the Merck Foundation and President of Merck Plus as a mother "I am delighted to launch this important training session because I firmly believe that the media play an important role in influencing our society and creating a culture change. He has the ability and the ability to break the stigma surrounding infertility in the community. "

The training was addressed by the pillars of the media industry, including international faculty and experts in infertility.

In addition, journalists had the opportunity to meet experts, network and work together to eradicate the stigma of infertility in Liberia and the rest of Africa. Journalists from the print, television, radio and online media and journalism students attended the meeting.

"Merck Health's media training program focuses on international standards and media ethics to report on sensitive issues such as infertility in Africa. It was designed to help journalists understand the problems of infertility in African communities and to learn the best media practices to cover these problems, "said Dr. Rasha Kelej.

The Merck Foundation also announced a call for applications for Merck's "More Than One Mother" Media Recognition Award for Liberia and the rest of Africa. The "Media Recognition Awards" "Merck More than a Mother" was launched in 2017 to highlight the role of the media in improving public engagement and understanding the stigma of infertility and the need to change one's social perception in African communities.

The applications are invited by media professionals to present their advocacy work on the prevention of infertility and the fight against the stigma of infertility in Liberia and the rest of Africa.

Who can apply? Journalists from print, online, radio and multimedia platforms from Liberia and the rest of Africa.

Last submission date: Entries can be submitted up to 30^th June 2019.

How to register? Registrations can be sent by email to: [email protected].

Categories and winnings for the winners:

Category	TV	Radio	Print support	Online media
Silver price	3000 USD	1000 USD	1000 USD	1000 USD

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Merck Foundation.

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About the 'Merck, more than a mother' campaign:
The "Merck more than a mother" initiative aims to empower infertile women by providing them with access to information, education and health, and changing attitudes. This powerful initiative helps governments define policies to improve access to regulated, safe and effective fertility care. It defines interventions aimed at eliminating the stigma of infertile women and raising awareness about the prevention and management of infertility. In partnership with universities, ministries of health and international fertility societies, this initiative also provides medical training and training to health care providers and embryologists to strengthen and strengthen care capacities. fertility in Africa and in developing countries.

With "Merck More than a Mother", we launched a cultural shift to de-stigmatize infertility at all levels: by raising awareness, building the skills of local experts, strengthening advocacy in cooperation with policy makers, and helping women without children start their businesses. own small business. It is about giving every woman the respect and help she deserves to lead a fulfilling life, with or without children.

The ambbadadors of "Merck more than a mother" are: H.E. NEO JANE MASISI, The First Lady of Botswana; H. E DENISE NKURUNZIZA, First Lady of Burundi; HE. BRIGITTE TOUADERA, First Lady of the Central African Republic; HE. HINDA DEBY ITNO, The First Lady of Chad; HE. ANTOINETTE SASSOU-NGUESSO, The First Lady of Congo; HE. REBECCA AKUFO-ADDO, The First Lady of Ghana; HE. FATOUMATTA BAH-BARROW, The First Lady of The Gambia; HE. CONDÉ DJENE, The First Lady of Guinea Conakry; HE. CLAR WEAH, First Lady of the Republic of Liberia; HE. PROFESSOR GERTRUDE MUTHARIKA, First Lady of Malawi; HE. MARIAM MINT AHMAD TEKBER, The First Lady of Mauritania; HE. DR. ISAURA FERRÃO NYUSI, The First Lady of Mozambique; H. AEISSATA ISSOUFOU MAHAMADO, First Lady of Niger; H. FATIMA MAADA, First Lady of Sierra Leone; HE. AUXILLIA MNANGAGW, The First Lady of Zimbabwe; HE. ESTHER LUNGU, The First Lady of Zambia.

The Merck training program on embryology and fertility is also part of the campaign. This is a three-month hands-on course, conducted in partnership with IRSI (Indonesia), IIRRH (India) and the Manipal Academy of Higher Education (Manipal University) in India , which aims to establish the platform. fertility specialists in Africa and developing countries. The Merck Foundation has provided fertility specialists and embryologists to more than 109 candidates in clinical and practical training in more than 30 countries in Africa and Asia, including: Chad, Niger, Central African Republic, Côte d 'Ivoire Ivory, Ghana, Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Nigeria, Benin, Mali, Burkina Faso, Senegal, Guinea Conakry, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Cameroon, Rwanda, Botswana, DR Congo, Congo Brazzaville, Gambia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Cambodia.

The Merck Foundation enters the history of many African countries where they never used fertility specialists or specialized fertility clinics until 'Merck More than a mother' intervention to train the first fertility specialists such as; Sierra Leone, Liberia, Gambia, Niger, Guinea, Ethiopia and Uganda.

The Merck Foundation has launched new innovative initiatives aimed at sensitizing local communities to the prevention of infertility, to male infertility with the aim of breaking down the stigma of infertility and to prevent infertility. empowerment of infertile women as part of Merck, more than a mother;

• Merck, more than a recognition award for maternal media and media training for health

• Merck More than a Mother Fashion Award

• Merck Movie Award More than a Mother

• Local songs with local artists to address the cultural perception of infertility and how to change it.

About the Merck Oncology Fellowship Program:
The Merck oncology fellowship program, a key initiative of the Merck Cancer Access program, aims to build capacity through medical education and training. Lack of financial resources is not the only challenge in Africa and in developing countries, but the shortage of qualified health personnel capable of tackling prevention, early diagnosis and disease management. cancer at all levels of health systems is an even greater challenge.

The Merck Oncology Fellowship Program focuses on building professional capacity in cancer treatment with the goal of increasing the limited number of oncologists in Africa and developing countries. The program offers a one-year fellowship program at Tata Memorial Center – India, one-and-a-half year oncology fellowship programs at the University of Malaya – Malaysia, a two-year oncology fellowship program. The University of Nairobi – Kenya and a Master's degree in Medicine and Surgery, Pediatrics and Radiation Oncology at Cairo University – Egypt, in partnership with African Ministries of Health, Local Government and Universities.

Launched in 2016, more than 43 applicants from more than 21 African countries participated in the Merck Oncology Fellowship Program. The program will continue to strengthen cancer treatment capabilities in African countries such as Botswana, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Ethiopia, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Mauritius, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone. and Zambia.

About the Merck Foundation:
The Merck Foundation (www.Merck-Foundation.com), created in 2017, is the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany. It aims to improve the health and well-being of people and improve their lives through science and technology. Our efforts are focused primarily on improving access to innovative healthcare solutions in under-served communities, building scientific and health care research capacity and empowerment. people in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, with a focus on women and youth. All Merck Foundation press releases are distributed by e-mail at the same time as they are available on the Merck Foundation website. Please visit www.Merck-Foundation.com to learn more and / or register online to interact and exchange experiences with our registered members.

About Merck:
Merck (www.MerckGroup.com) is a leading science and technology company in the fields of health, life sciences and performance materials. Nearly 53,000 employees work to develop life-enhancing and life-enhancing technologies – from biopharmaceutical therapies to cancer and multiple sclerosis, to state-of-the-art systems for scientific research and production, to liquid crystals for smartphones and TVs LCD. In 2017, Merck achieved a turnover of 15.3 billion euros in 66 countries.

Founded in 1668, Merck is the world's oldest pharmaceutical and chemical company. The founding family remains the majority owner of the publicly traded group of companies. Merck holds worldwide rights to the Merck name and brand. The only exceptions are the United States and Canada, where the company operates as EMD Serono, MilliporeSigma.