Merck Foundation and First Ladies Unite for World ART Day 2025

On March 25, 2025, the Merck Foundation, alongside First Ladies from various African and Asian nations, commemorated **World Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) Day**. This collaboration is part of their ongoing campaign, **“More Than a Mother,”** aimed at enhancing fertility care and breaking the stigma surrounding infertility in these regions.

The Merck Foundation has made significant strides by training the first local embryologists and reproductive specialists in several countries, including **The Gambia**, **Liberia**, **Burundi**, **Guinea**, **Chad**, **Niger**, **Sierra Leone**, **Malawi**, and **Congo**. They have also supported the establishment of public IVF centers in **Rwanda**, **Ethiopia**, **Niger**, **Bangladesh**, and **Myanmar**, marking a critical step towards improving reproductive health services.

Dr. Rasha Kelej, the CEO of the Merck Foundation and President of the “More Than a Mother” campaign, stated, “At Merck Foundation, we celebrate World ART Day by enhancing fertility and reproductive care capacity. We empower infertile women by improving their access to information and quality reproductive care across Africa and Asia.” She highlighted the provision of **716 scholarships** for embryology and reproductive care to young doctors from **41 countries**, emphasizing that many of these individuals are now the first local experts in their respective nations.

The **“More Than a Mother”** campaign aims to build quality reproductive care capacity and raise awareness about infertility, particularly male infertility, which often goes unaddressed. The campaign has provided a total of **2,280 scholarships** across **52 countries** in various medical specialties, with a focus on reproductive health.

According to the **World Health Organization (WHO)**, over **180 million couples** in developing countries experience infertility, representing **one in every four couples**. In many cultures, particularly in Africa, infertility carries a significant stigma, often leading to societal isolation and discrimination. The Merck Foundation’s initiatives seek to change this narrative.

One notable effort under the campaign is the **“Empowering Berna”** initiative, which supports women who are unable to conceive by providing them with training to establish small businesses, fostering independence and self-sufficiency. This initiative has positively impacted many women across countries such as **Kenya**, **Uganda**, **Nigeria**, and **Malawi**.

Dr. Kelej remarked, “It’s all about giving every woman the respect and assistance she deserves to lead a fulfilling life, regardless of whether she has children.”

The Merck Foundation has also trained over **3,700 media representatives** from more than **35 countries** to promote awareness and combat the stigma surrounding infertility. In partnership with Africa’s First Ladies, they have developed a **children’s storybook** to instill values of love and respect from a young age, aiming to eliminate the stigma associated with infertility and its consequences, including domestic violence. The storybooks are available in multiple languages, including **English**, **French**, and **Portuguese**.

Moreover, the foundation’s pan-African television program, **“Our Africa,”** created and hosted by Dr. Kelej, features episodes dedicated to raising awareness about infertility and breaking related stigmas.

In addition to these initiatives, the Merck Foundation has produced approximately **30 songs** advocating for the acceptance and support of individuals facing infertility. These musical contributions are part of the broader campaign to foster a cultural shift regarding infertility in society.

To further engage the community, the Merck Foundation annually hosts the **“More Than a Mother” Awards**, inviting media professionals, fashion designers, filmmakers, and musicians to share their creative work addressing infertility and other social issues.

Dr. Kelej encourages participation, stating, “I invite the African community to showcase their talents and creativity for this important cause.”

For more information about the Merck Foundation and its initiatives, visit their official website or download the Merck Foundation app from the app store. The foundation continues to advocate for a world where every woman receives the respect and support she deserves, regardless of her reproductive status.