Support women with infertility—First Lady
First Lady Monica Chakwera has urged African First Ladies to empower women with infertility and support girls’ education in their respective countries.
She made the call yesterday when she joined her fellow first ladies during this year’s Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary Nninth Edition Conference at Al Habtoor City in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates.
Chakwera said stigma around infertility is silently killing women in Malawi.
The First Lady said she has partnered different organisations such as Merck Foundation to define the right strategy to build healthcare capacity and empower infertile women.
She said: “I am closely working with the Government of Malawi to break stigma around infertile women and empower them.
“At least 13 infertile women have been directly supported under the Empowering Berna Initiative. These women have been assisted to establish their own small businesses.”
In her speech, Botswana First Lady Neo Jane Masisi also stressed the need for African First Ladies to work together to break the stigma around infertility.
“Infertility stigma is a silent pandemic we all must fight,” she said.
Merck Foundation board chairperson Professor Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp commended the 14 First Ladies who are also ambassadors of the foundation’s ‘More than a Mother Campaign’ for breaking stigma around infertility.
He said: “This [campaign] will contribute to empowering women who live with infertility stigma and suffer its severe psychological and social consequences.”
The other African First Ladies are from Burundi, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Zambia.
Last year, about 19 Malawian doctors received one-year Merck Foundation Scholarships to undergo different trainings, including oncology and fertility.
During the eighth edition of Merck Africa Asia Luminary held virtually in 2021, Chakwera hailed the foundation for its support to the country’s health sector.
Last year, the foundation, through Merck’s Education Linda Programme, also awarded scholarships to about 40 best performing girls in secondary schools.
