Merck Foundation, in collaboration with Africa’s First Ladies and Ministries of Health, marked the 2025 World Cancer Day by furthering its commitment to transforming cancer care in Africa.
Through its Cancer Access Program, the foundation awarded 194 oncology scholarships to doctors across 32 African countries, addressing the continent’s critical shortage of oncologists.
The scholarships, which span one, two, and three-year fellowships, postgraduate diplomas, and Master’s degrees in oncology, aim to enhance the skills of healthcare professionals in regions with limited cancer care resources.
With a focus on building multidisciplinary oncology care teams, the initiative has made significant strides, particularly in countries such as The Gambia, Sierra Leone, Burundi, Liberia, Guinea Conakry, and Central African Republic, where oncology services were previously unavailable.
CEO of Merck Foundation, Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej, expressed pride in the foundation’s achievements: “We are not just marking World Cancer Day as a single event; we are reaffirming our ongoing commitment to improving cancer care across Africa. By providing these scholarships, we are not only training the first oncologists but also establishing the first cancer care teams in many African nations.”
The scholarships are part of a broader effort by Merck Foundation to address the high cancer mortality rates in Africa, where over 1.1 million new cancer cases are reported annually, resulting in nearly 700,000 deaths. The lack of early detection and trained medical professionals are key contributors to the high mortality rate.
In addition to the fellowships, Merck Foundation offers online postgraduate diplomas in cancer and clinical oncology, pain management, and other specializations through reputable universities in the UK. These efforts are aimed at building long-term sustainable cancer care infrastructure on the continent.
The impact of the program is already being felt across Africa, with alumni like Dr. Chifundo Kajombo from Malawi sharing how the training has helped him revolutionize breast cancer care in his country. “I am so proud to have been awarded the Best Surgeon for 2023 in Malawi. Merck Foundation’s scholarship played a crucial role in my professional growth,” said Dr. Kajombo.
