Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation and President of the “More Than a Mother” Campaign, led the Third Edition of the World Infertility Awareness Summit (WIAS) 2024, co-hosted by the Merck Foundation and the Africa Reproductive Care Society (ARCS). This significant event aimed to challenge the stigma surrounding infertility, with a special focus on male infertility, and to promote educational and healthcare advancements in this field.
The summit, which was also a press conference, was co-chaired by notable figures including Prof. Oladapo Ashiru OFR, President of ARCS; Dr. Edem Hiadzi, former President of the Fertility Society of Ghana (FERSOG); Prof. Justin E. Mboloko, former President of the Inter-African Fertility Research and Application Study Group (GIERAF); and Dr. Moustapha Thiam, a prominent Senegalese obstetrician-gynecologist specializing in IVF.
Dr. Kelej highlighted the significance of the summit, stating, “Our third edition of the World Infertility Awareness Summit, in collaboration with ARCS, has been instrumental in raising awareness about infertility and breaking down the associated stigma. Our efforts are geared towards empowering infertile couples and individuals by enhancing access to education, healthcare, and information.”
She expressed pride in the Merck Foundation’s contributions, noting that the organization has provided over 574 scholarships in Embryology, Fertility, and Reproductive Care to young doctors from 39 countries. This initiative has helped establish local experts in previously underserved regions, including The Gambia, Burundi, Guinea, Chad, Niger, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Malawi.
Prof. Ashiru emphasized the broader implications of infertility, describing it as a social issue with profound psychological effects on women. He urged for community education to address the stigma and highlighted preventive measures such as adopting a healthy lifestyle and ending practices like Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).
The summit’s objectives included raising awareness about infertility, especially male infertility, discussing preventive measures, addressing challenges in accessing quality care, and defining strategies to combat stigma.
Attended by over 350 participants and more than 4,500 online viewers, the summit featured a range of stakeholders including future fertility specialists, healthcare providers, policy makers, and media professionals from over 25 countries. The event was held under the Merck Foundation’s “More Than a Mother” campaign, which aims to build reproductive and fertility care capacity, eliminate infertility stigma, and promote awareness.
During the summit, the Merck Foundation presented their animated film “More Than a Mother,” adapted from their storybook. The film underscores the importance of fostering respect and love from a young age to mitigate infertility stigma and related domestic violence.
According to WHO data, infertility affects over 180 million couples in developing countries, with significant cultural stigma often imposed on women. The Merck Foundation’s initiatives, including the “Empowering Berna” program, seek to support childless women by providing training for small business ventures, thus aiding their independence and personal growth.
Dr. Kelej concluded, “Our goal is to ensure every woman receives the respect and support she deserves, regardless of her fertility status.” Additionally, the Merck Foundation has trained over 3,200 media representatives from 35 countries to further awareness and challenge infertility stigma. Their pan-African TV program “Our Africa,” which Dr. Kelej co-hosts, includes episodes dedicated to this critical issue.
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