Mauritius recently hosted a high-level engagement between Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation — the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany — and His Excellency Mr. Dharambeer Gokhool, President of the Republic of Mauritius. The discussions focused on the impactful programs implemented since 2017, aimed at transforming public healthcare, empowering women and addressing social issues across Mauritius and Africa.
During the meeting, Dr. Kelej emphasized the foundation’s ongoing commitment to improving healthcare access and capacity building in the region. Since the partnership’s inception, Merck Foundation has provided over 100 scholarships to Mauritian doctors across 42 critical and underserved specialties. These scholarships include one-year postgraduate diplomas and two-year master’s degrees in fields such as fertility, embryology, reproductive care, oncology, cardiovascular health, diabetes, endocrinology, among others.
The foundation’s efforts extend into advanced medical training in emerging fields, with discussions on potential specialized training in areas such as Stem Cell Therapy, CAR T-cell treatment, AI applications in radiology, robotic surgical oncology, neurology, nephrology, and neurosurgery. These initiatives aim to equip Mauritian doctors with cutting-edge skills to improve patient outcomes and healthcare standards.
Merck Foundation has facilitated more than 2,280 scholarships across 52 countries, with many recipients becoming the first specialists in their respective fields in their countries. These initiatives are part of a broader strategy to bolster healthcare systems in underserved regions.
In addition to its healthcare initiatives, Merck Foundation’s engagement in Mauritius includes collaboration with the Ministry of Health and the Office of the Minister of Health to foster sustainable healthcare development. The foundation also conducted its 4th edition of health media training in partnership with the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family Welfare. This program aims to harness media influence to address social and health issues such as infertility stigma, girl child education, women’s empowerment, child marriage, FGM, gender-based violence, and non-communicable diseases like diabetes and hypertension.
A significant component of the foundation’s visit involved a meeting with Honourable Ms. Marie Arianne Navarre-Marie, Minister of Gender Equality and Family Welfare, Mauritius, along with senior officials from the ministry. This engagement focused on strengthening collaboration to promote social change and gender equality through joint initiatives.
Furthermore, the foundation announced the Call for Applications for the Merck Foundation Africa Media Recognition Awards “More Than a Mother” 2025. Media professionals, students, and creative talents are invited to submit work that raises awareness about social issues such as infertility, women’s empowerment and ending child marriage and FGM. The awards aim to inspire societal shifts through innovative storytelling and advocacy.
This series of strategic engagements demonstrates Merck Foundation’s steadfast dedication to transforming healthcare, empowering women and addressing social challenges through collaborative efforts in Mauritius and beyond.