TANZANIA: MERCK FOUNDATION COMMITS TO LONG TERM PARTNERSHIP WITH GOVERNMENT OF TANZANIA

Merck Foundation commits to build healthcare capacity and improve access to innovative and equitable healthcare solutions in Tanzania

DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania, July 14, 2017/ -- Merck Foundation (www.Merck-Foundation.com) commits to long term partnership with the Government of Tanzania. During the high level meeting between Her Excellency Vice President, Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan and Dr Rasha Kelej, the CEO of Merck Foundation, Merck Foundation commits to build healthcare capacity and improve access to innovative and equitable healthcare solutions across the country as part of their CSR programs across Africa. Merck Foundation will focus on providing one year and two years surgical and paediatric oncology fellowship program in India, Europe and University of Nairobi for Tanzanian doctors to improve the cancer care in the country. They will also focus on empowering infertile women through access to information, awareness, health, change of mind set and economic empowerment across the country through their ‘Merck more than a Mother’ campaign. “The prevalence of infertility is so high in Africa, one every four couple in reproductive age suffers from infertility and yet around 85% of those cases are due to untreated infectious disease which can prevented, hence raising awareness about prevention through local media and social media is very critical”, Rasha Kelej said. “Raising awareness about male infertility as the infertility affects women and men equally and yet women are the one who been solely blamed, discriminated and mistreated in their communities. The campaign will address this topic and encourage men to discuss openly their infertility and share the journey of infertility diagnosis and treatment with their wives”, Kelej added. Her Excellency Vice President, Samia Suluhu Hassan commended the role Merck Foundation plays in healthcare capacity building in Africa and welcomes them to Tanzania. She added: “Tanzania welcomes Merck Foundation to the country, we are happy to partner with such reputable and serious organization top empower women and you, healthcare and science. I will personally work with you to empower these underprivileged women  socially and economically across Tanzania and the rest of the world to create a culture shift needed to respect and appreciate women as productive members in society weather they are mother or not.” To know more about Merck Foundation programs and their training and fellowship opportunities, please visit their website www.Merck-Foundation.com and www.MerckMoreThanAMother.com. Distributed by APO on behalf of Merck Foundation. View multimedia content Your contact:  Sandra Mulluka +254 722 725 269 About Merck Foundation: The Merck Foundation (www.Merck-Foundation.com), established in 2017, is a philanthropic organization that aims to improve the health and wellbeing of people and advance their lives through science and technology. Our efforts are primarily focused on improving access to innovative healthcare solutions in underserved communities, building healthcare and scientific research capacity and empowering people in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) with a special focus on women and youth. Join the conversation on our social media below Merck Foundation: Facebook (http://APO.af/V6GHQo) Twitter (http://APO.af/sE2D1R) Youtube (http://APO.af/TKU5CR) Instagram: (@MerckFoundation) For more information please visit www.Merck-Foundation.com. Merck More Than a Mother:  Twitter (http://APO.af/bF4bcW) Facebook (http://APO.af/QzAcNn) Youtube (http://APO.af/hjlOqk) For more information please visit www.MerckMoreThanAMother.com. Merck Africa: Facebook (http://APO.af/p6D8H8) Twitter (http://APO.af/kLnuc7) Instagram (@merck_africa) For more information please visit www.Merck-Africa.com. Join Merck Foundation healthcare & research online community to exchange experience and information with other healthcare providers, researchers, students, policy makers and community members in Africa and beyond www.Merck-Foundation.comfree registration. All Merck Foundation press releases are distributed by e-mail at the same time they become available on the Merck Foundation Website. Please go to www.Merck-Foundation.com  to read more and/or register online to interact and exchange experience with our registered members. About Merck:  Merck is a leading science and technology company in healthcare, life science and performance materials. Around 50,000 employees work to further develop technologies that improve and enhance life – from biopharmaceutical therapies to treat cancer or multiple sclerosis, cutting-edge systems for scientific research and production, to liquid crystals for smartphones and LCD televisions. In 2016, Merck generated sales of € 15.0 billion 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 listed corporate group. Merck, Darmstadt, Germany holds the global rights to the “Merck” name and brand except in the United States and Canada, where the company operates as EMD Serono, MilliporeSigma and EMD Performance Materials. SOURCE Merck Foundation