The Merck Foundation observed World Diabetes Day with Africa’s first ladies, ministries of health, medical societies and academia, through its ‘Nationwide Diabetes and Hypertension Blue Points Programme’
Merck Foundation chief executive Rasha Kelej emphasises the role of the foundation through its efforts of providing scholarships to doctors to transform the patient care landscape in the fields of diabetes, endocrinology and hypertension.
World Diabetes Day is observed on 14 November annually.
The foundation also raises awareness in communities about leading a healthy lifestyle, prevention, early detection and management of these conditions.
“I am very proud to share together with our ambassadors, the first ladies of Africa, and partners, we have up to date provided 830 scholarships to doctors from 52 countries for one-year diplomas and two-year master’s degrees in diabetes, hypertension, preventative cardiovascular, cardiology, endocrinology and obesity and weight management, and also, a special three-month diabetes master’s course in English, French, Portuguese and Spanish,” Kelej says.
The scholarships are making a great impact in expanding access to diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular care.
“After graduation, these doctors can establish diabetes clinics in health centres or hospitals in their countries,” she says.
The Merck Foundation has provided more than 2 080 scholarships to doctors from 52 countries in 44 critical and underserved medical specialties.
According to the World Health Organisation, around 45 million adults (aged between 20 and 79) in the African region are at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes, with projections estimating that this number could reach 110 million by 2045.
Furthermore, Africa has the highest rate of undiagnosed diabetes, with 70% of adults living with the condition unaware of it.
This year’s theme for World Diabetes Day is ‘Breaking Barriers, Bridging Gaps’.
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