"GIRLS CAN ACHIEVE ANYTHING WITH THE RIGHT SUPPORT REVEALS MERCK FOUNDATION CEO

By Hamu Madzedze- Zimbabwe

The Merck Foundation CEO Senator Dr Rasha Kelej said with the right support the girl child can excel in the area of Science and Technology.

In a statement observing the International Day on Women and Girls in Science which is celebrated annually on the 11th of February, Merck Foundation CEO Senator ,Dr Rasha Kelej said girls can do anything they set their minds to with the right support and this includes excelling in Science and Technology and break the barriers that have held them back for so long.

"We at Merck Foundation mark the "International Day of Girls and Women in Science 2024 by supporting and empowering women in the areas of Science and Technology"said Senator Dr Rash Kelej.

She pointed out that despite the significant strides women have made in their careers ,there remains a notable under representation in the area of science and technology.

"We aim to narrow the gender inequality gap and empower women to participate equally in these areas of science and technology,"she said.

Senator Dr Kelej added that partnership with the First Ladies of Africa they have been transforming the patient care landscape in Africa by providing young doctors in critical medical specialities.

"Out of the 1 700 scholarships provided by the foundation ,more than 780 scholarships were for women medical graduates and this is close to 45% of Merck Foundation Alumni which is a great milestone for us "she said .

The foundation strongly believes education is one of the critical areas of women empowerment and serves as the base and a force that brings change in the lives of women and girls.

Additionally ,the foundation is adapting their storybooks to create interesting animation films with the purpose of reaching out to communities to raise awareness on the importance of supporting girl child education and ending child marriages.

The United Nations established this day with the aim to promote women and girls participation in science,technology ,engineering and Mathematics in order to address the gender disparities in this field.