Merck Foundation Calls on Media to Drive Women’s Health and Nation-Building Agenda.
“You have demonstrated that real progress begins when we invest in people — when we care for the sick, educate the young, and empower the vulnerable,” said Barrow.
By Calister Bonareri | Nairobi | October 18, 2025
Journalists have been urged to use their platforms to drive conversations that advance women’s health, education, and empowerment, echoing the vision shared by African First Ladies during the 12th Edition of the Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary, held this week in The Gambia.
The event — co-chaired by the First Lady of The Gambia, Madame Fatoumatta Bah-Barrow, and attended by delegates from across Africa — focused on building sustainable solutions to gender inequality and health disparities through partnerships in science, media, and community leadership.
In a keynote address read on his behalf, President AdamaBarrow of The Gambia hailed Africa’s First Ladies for their “unwavering commitment to transforming lives” through advocacy in health, infertility awareness, education, and youth empowerment.
“You have demonstrated that real progress begins when we invest in people — when we care for the sick, educate the young, and empower the vulnerable,” said Barrow. “Your work is not only humanitarian in nature; it is nation-building in its purest and most impactful form.
Kenya’s participation in the Luminary comes at a time when the country is grappling with challenges in women’s health and access to medical specialists, particularly in rural counties.
According to the Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS, 2022), nearly 40% of Kenyan women in rural areas lack access to reproductive health services, while the World Bank notes that maternal mortality remains at 342 deaths per 100,000 live births — a figure the government aims to halve by 2030.
Through its partnership with the Merck Foundation, Kenya has benefited from scholarships and training for local doctors in fields such as oncology, diabetes, and fertility care. The Foundation also works with the Office of the First Lady of Kenya, under Mama Rachel Ruto, to raise awareness on girls’ education and infertility stigma.
Empowering Journalists as Change Agents
During the training sessions for journalists held alongside the Luminary, participants were challenged to use storytelling as a tool for public education on health and gender issues.
Kenyan journalist who attended the event, said the sessions helped understand that journalism is not just about reporting statistics, but about shaping national consciousness.
The Merck Foundation Media Recognition Awards, which honor outstanding reporting on health and social impact issues, were also highlighted as a platform for African journalists to amplify underreported stories.
Women at the Center of Development
President Barrow reaffirmed The Gambia’s commitment to policies that prioritize women and girls, including free education for girls and increased female representation in leadership.
In a similar vein, Kenya’s Vision 2030 recognizes gender equality as a key pillar of socio-economic transformation.
“African Women Nurture Nations”
In his closing remarks, President Barrow celebrated African women as the backbone of the continent’s resilience.
“African women nurture nations, sustain families, and lead with integrity,” he said. “They embody the strength of the African spirit resilient, resourceful, and radiant.”
More than 6,000 healthcare providers, policymakers and media from over 70 English, French, Spanish and Portuguese speaking countries attended the Luminary through hybrid model to benefit from three parallel scientific and social sessions to advance healthcare capacity and awareness in 44 critical and underserved medical specialties.
As Kenya continues to invest in universal health coverage and gender equality, the call from The Gambia serves as a timely reminder: nation-building begins with care for the body, the mind, and the people who hold the fabric of our societies together.
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