Kenya is set to enroll 100 beneficiaries in a post-graduate diploma program in Clinical Nutrition at the University of Buckingham in England.
Kenya’s First Lady, Rachel Ruto, made this announcement during the 7th edition of the Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative (MFFLI) Summit held in Dubai, UAE. The summit brought together over 15 African First Ladies, dignitaries, healthcare professionals, and media representatives from Africa, Asia, and other regions to discuss healthcare and social development.
Speaking at the summit, First Lady Ruto said the new program launched in partnership with the Merck Foundation will help strengthen and better equip Kenya’s healthcare professionals to serve their communities more effectively.
“This will further strengthen and better equip our health care professionals as they serve our communities. We commend the Merck Foundation’s More Than a Mother campaign for addressing some of the most urgent social and health challenges in our communities,” she said.
She added, “We look forward to continuing our close collaboration with the Merck Foundation to achieve even greater impact and reach new transformative milestones together.”
Since 2012, the Merck Foundation has awarded 244 scholarships to Kenyan doctors, several of whom attended the summit to share the impact of their training.
Among them was Dr. Elijah Maura Chege, who became the first formally trained urologist in Tharaka Nithi County in 2023, thanks to a scholarship from the Merck Foundation and training at the University of Edinburgh.
“Before this opportunity, patients in my region had to travel hundreds of kilometers to access urological care. Many endured pains in silence; some never made the journey,” Dr. Chege shared.
“Today, I can provide life-saving solutions close to home. This is more than a degree, it is the power to restore dignity to a child born with hypospadias, to save a man with prostate cancer, and to mentor the next generation of Kenyan surgeons.”
He emphasized the importance of continued partnerships, adding, “We need to strengthen infrastructure, equip hospitals, and support local training. No dream is too distant when someone believes in you.”
The First Lady praised the Merck Foundation team, led by Merck Foundation CEO Dr. Rasha Kelej, for their ongoing support and visible dedication. “Once again, thank you and happy anniversary Merck Foundation,” she said.
She expressed pride in her association with the Foundation, applauding its work to improve healthcare access and support girl child education. “Congratulations on your 8th anniversary and the completion of 13 years of impactful programs in Asia and Africa. This remarkable platform inspires collaboration, action, and real impact across our beloved continent and beyond.”
Merck Foundation marked 13 years of service in advancing healthcare, education, and women’s empowerment.
She stressed the responsibility of First Ladies to build strong, long-term partnerships with organizations like the Merck Foundation to promote quality and equitable health care and support education for girls.
Presenting the outcomes of Kenya’s partnership with Merck Foundation, she described them as “extraordinary milestones that will leave a lasting impact on the quality and accessibility of healthcare across our nation.”
Notably, 50 percent of the scholarships have been awarded to female healthcare workers, highlighting the Foundation’s commitment to women’s empowerment.
“In partnership with the Merck Foundation, we remain committed to enrolling more doctors, not only to serve Kenya but also fellow Africans who seek medical care in our country,” she said.
The First Lady also highlighted the Foundation’s Educating Linda program, which currently supports 47 underprivileged but high-performing Kenyan girls with full scholarships from secondary school to university.
“I believe every girl in Kenya and across Africa deserves the opportunity to pursue her dreams whether to become a doctor, an engineer, a teacher, a scientist, a pastor, or any other profession she chooses. It is our duty to break down every barrier that stands in the way of girls attending school,” she added.
