Merck Foundation, a philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA, Germany, along with Manipal Academy of Higher Education, MAHE signs a MoU partnering in providing embryology training program for Africa and Asia. Also, Merck Embryology Training Program, a certified course in Assistive Reproduction and Embryology has been launched by Merck Foundation in partnership with MAHE.

Dr.Rasha Kelej, CEO, Merck Foundation,says, “We are pleased to partner with the Manipal

Academy of Higher Education in India to provide hands-on practical training to developembryologists’ platform in Africa and Asia to increase the number of standalone embryologists, and to improve the access to cost-effective fertility care in the developing countries, since the lack of trained and skilled health personnel is the main challenge in Africa and Asia”.

Founded in 1668, Merck Foundation is the world’s oldest pharmaceutical and chemical company. With a family of 50,000 employees, they aim to improve technologies that enhance life in the healthcare industry. Merck Foundation’s vision to gradually scale-up to more African and Asian countries in addiction to other developing countries, improves the healthcare capacities, cultural shift to destigmatize infertility and the Merck More than a mother has seen active participation in various countries since 2015. The main agenda of the program is to connect the deficit of talented Embryologists in Africa and part of Asia to match the ever rising demand for fertility care in these countries.

Appreciating the work of Merck Foundation, Prof. Pragna Rao, Dean, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, states that, “We are glad to be a part of this wonderful initiative of Merck Foundation. We appreciate the Merck Foundation’s efforts to break the infertility stigma and to build fertility care capacity in Africa and developing countries”.