First Lady Madam Sajidha Mohamed has said that talks are underway on securing scholarship and Training opportunities in important areas for Maldivian students, through Merck Foundation. She said this while delivering the keynote address at the Inauguration Session of the 7th Edition of the Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative Summit (MFFLI) held on Wednesday.
Highlighting that she had the opportunity to meet the owners of the Merck Foundation in Male one month back, Madam Sajidha said discussions at the meeting were also focused on ways of improving the general health and wellbeing of the Maldivian people. She said following the Merck Foundation meeting in Tanzania 8 months back, scholarship opportunities have been secured for Maldivian students and expressed appreciation for facilitating fertility and embryology training scholarships for local doctors in the Maldives. She noted that this is a critical specialty facing a shortage of skilled professionals.
Madam Sajidha said further talks are continuing to secure additional opportunities in other areas as well.
The First Lady further noted ongoing efforts to increase access to affordable and quality healthcare across the Maldives and expressed interest in sustaining long-term technical partnerships to improve healthcare services across the country. She highlighted the importance of building community awareness and improving services related to cancer screening and mental health, as well as supporting women’s leadership in the health sector.
In her speech, the First Lady congratulated Merck Foundation as it marks their 8th anniversary as a philanthropic foundation and an overall of 13 years conducting various social development programs. She thanked the Merck Foundation for naming her an Ambassador of the Merck Foundation’s “More than a mother” campaign.
The First Lady shared with other attending First Ladies the community awareness initiative in the Maldives, developed in partnership with the Merck Foundation, to raise awareness of infertility stigma, gender-based violence, women’s empowerment, and issues such as diabetes and hypertension. She briefed about the institutionalization of gender equality policies under the Gender Equality Action Plan that supports women entrepreneurs, increase women’s access to justice, and help to prevent violence against women.
The First Lady is currently in Dubai, United Arab Emirates to attend the 7th Edition of the Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative Summit (MFFLI) as Guest of Honor.
