Health
MERCK Foundation has marked World Hypertension Day 2023 and released Mark’s Pressure, a children storybook to raise awareness about Hypertension in Africa.
The foundation also released Pan African TV Program “Our Africa” address social and health issues such as diabetes and hypertension and promote healthy lifestyle in Africa through “Fashion and ART”, conceptualized and directed by Merck Foundation chief executive officer, CEO, Senator Rasha Kelej.
Senator Kelej stated, “On the occasion of World Hypertension Day that he is “very happy to bring to you Merck Foundation’s new children storybook– ‘Mark’s Pressure’ in partnership with my dear sisters, the African First Ladies which is currently available on our social media and websites and will be distributed soon in our partner countries. Through our new children storybook, we want to promote a healthy lifestyle and raise awareness about prevention, early detection, causes and management of hypertension. It also emphasizes on the importance of a healthy lifestyle. It is a reminder to all of you that health is our only wealth.”
The story communicates an important message that hypertension can be prevented and managed with lifestyle modifications like exercising regularly, avoiding alcohol, quitting smoking, eliminating salty and sugary meals and eating healthy food. We have also released “Sugar free Jude” storybook and new song “No More Diabetes” in three languages; English, French and Portuguese to raise awareness about diabetes because both Conditions are correlated and we should address both at the same time.”
He said: “At Merck Foundation, we mark ‘World Hypertension Day’ every day by providing till today more than 735 scholarships of one year diploma and 2 year master degree of Cardiovascular, Diabetes, Endocrinology and Obesity & Weight Management care specialty training to doctors from 43 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America, in partnership with African First Ladies and Ministries of Health, and medical societies, strong platform of experts nationwide not only from capitals or big cities.”
Also, Kwizera Lucie, Merck Foundation alumnus from Burundi said: “I have completed the post-graduate degree in Preventative Cardiovascular Medicine, provided by Merck Foundation. I would like to extend my gratitude to Merck Foundation for giving me the scholarship to pursue this course from the University of South Wales. It has helped me to serve my community in a better way , it has changed my approach towards patient assessment and management. Merck Foundation is truly changing lives.”
Medical graduates from the following 43 countries have benefitted from the 735 scholarships provided by Merck Foundation: Bangladesh, Botswana, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, CAR, Chad, Congo Brazzaville, DRC, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea Conakry, Indonesia, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Peru, Philippines, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tanzania, UAE, Uganda, Vietnam, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
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Tags: Kwizera Lucie MERCK Foundation Senator Rasha Kelej.
