First Lady pledges to fight infertility stigma

First Lady Monica Chakwera has stressed the need to amplify access to information, education and health in sensitising communities, especially in rural areas, to understand infertility and break the stigma around barren women.

The First Lady made the pledge in Lilongwe during a virtual conference of Merck Foundation First Ladies (MFFLI) yesterday where she was appointed Ambassador of Merck More Than a Mother in Malawi.

In her address, she said she was happy to be appointed Ambassador of Merck More Than a Mother, an initiative that seeks to improve the health and well-being of people and advance their lives through science and technology.

Chakwera committed to fully support the campaign as First Lady to help end the stigma infertile women across nations are facing.

She said: “As a woman, this cause is very close to my heart. I will work in collaboration with our ministries to break the stigma around infertile women.”

The Merck Foundation in partnership with Chakwera and Ministr y of Health intends to provide specialty training to Malawian doctors in various fields such as oncology, diabetes, fertility, embryology, respiratory care, acute medicines, sexual and reproductive medicines to transform public health care sector in Malawi.

In her remarks, Merck Foundation chief executive officer Dr. Rasha Kelej said the organisation was pleased to partner with Chakwera.

T h e c o n f e r e n c e w a s attended by 13 African first ladies who discussed efforts to build health care capacity and strengthen the response to coronavirus in their respective countries and Africa at large.

Recently, Merck Foundation celebrated three journalists from Malawi for their “Stay at Home” media recognition awards from Southern African countries. The journalists included Mercy Malikwa of Nation Publications Limited and Aston Gondwe of Malawi Broadcasting Corporation