The Mt Kenya Times 
Alumni of Merck Foundation
Celebration were marked by Awarding 760 Scholarships to Future Cardiovascular, Diabetes, and Endocrinology Experts Across 52 Countries
By Elizabeth Angira
Merck Foundation, in partnership with African First Ladies, Ministries of Health, and Medical Societies, marked World Hypertension Day by providing 760 scholarships for future experts in Cardiovascular, Diabetes, and Endocrinology from 52 countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
These scholarships, which include a one-year Post-Graduate Diploma and a two-year Master’s Degree in Preventive Medicine, Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Obesity and Weight Management, aim to improve access to quality and equitable care in these fields.
This initiative is part of the 1810 total scholarships Merck Foundation has provided to doctors in 42 critical and underserved medical specialties, including Oncology, Sexual and Reproductive Care, Acute Medicine, and many more.
Access to preventive care
During the celebration of World Hypertension Day, Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation, emphasized the importance of improving access to preventive care for hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
The foundation has offered scholarships for various educational programs, including a special three-month Diabetes Master course available in English, French, Portuguese, and Spanish.
“These scholarships aim to build a robust network of medical experts across nations, not just in capital cities or large urban areas,” she said.
Dr. Victoria Mumbo, a Merck Foundation alumnus from Kenya, expressed her gratitude for the life-changing opportunity to complete a postgraduate degree in Preventative Cardiovascular Medicine.
She highlighted how the course has enhanced her patient management skills and community education efforts on leading a healthy lifestyle.
In addition to scholarships, Merck Foundation, in partnership with African First Ladies, released a children’s storybook and an animated film, “Mark’s Pressure,” to educate on the early onset, detection, prevention, and management of hypertension. The animation aims to encourage healthy habits such as reducing salt and sugar intake, exercising regularly, eating healthily, and quitting smoking to prevent and manage hypertension and diabetes.
World Hypertension Day 2024: Theme
This year, the World Hypertension League selected “Measure Your Blood Pressure Accurately, Control It, and Live Longer” as the World Hypertension Day theme to promote awareness of high blood pressure and the importance of accurate measurement.
According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 1.28 billion adults aged 30–79 worldwide have hypertension, with two-thirds living in low- and middle-income countries. Of these, 46% are unaware they have the condition, and only 42% are diagnosed and treated.
Achievement
Merck Foundation also launched new fellowship programs for one-year clinical cardiovascular care and one-year clinical diabetes onsite training in India for African doctors. These programs aim to further improve cardiovascular, hypertension, and diabetes care in Africa and other developing countries.
Additionally, Merck Foundation released the animation films “Mark’s Pressure” and “Sugar Free Jude,” adapted from their children’s storybooks, to raise awareness about the early detection and prevention of hypertension and diabetes. The Pan African TV Program “Our Africa,” directed by Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej, addresses social and health issues such as diabetes and hypertension and promotes a healthy lifestyle through “Fashion and ART.”
Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany, commemorates World Hypertension Day 2024 with Africa’s First Ladies, Ministries of Health, Medical Societies, and Academia through the “Nationwide Diabetes & Hypertension Blue Points Program,” providing scholarships for young doctors and raising awareness to transform patient care in hypertension, cardiology, diabetes, and endocrinology in Africa and beyond.
Similar Posts by The Mt Kenya Times:
- Two weekends, two fronts: How DCP is fighting on both sides of the Atlantic
- Kalonzo becoming a movement: The quiet storm that is scaring Ruto
- Sifuna climbing the mountain: Kenya’s political map is being redrawn
- Counting regions, chasing power: Kenya’s road to 2027
- When the tax math changed, Kenyans found their voice
About the Author
