Merck Foundation extends Olive branch, partner with Clar Hope Foundation

By Dennise Nimpson|LPR News, Monrovia

Merck Foundation in Partnership with Clar’s Hope foundation donated food across Monrovia and its  environs amidst the fight against COVID-19.

Merck Foundation is a philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany established in 2017 and Chief Executive officer is Rasha Kelej an Egyptian and also the President of Merck More than a mother.

The Foundation has raced to respond to the coronavirus pandemic in partnership with 18 Africans First Ladies, Ministries of Health, Information and Education focusing on four main areas.

The four main areas are Community Support, Healthcare Capacity Building, Community Awareness through media Awards and Community awareness for Children and Youth.

The First Ladies include Liberia, Ghana, DR Congo, Zimbabwe, Niger, Sierra Leone, Malawi, and amongst others.

Dr.Rasha Kelej said “Lockdown imposed in most countries has hit the daily workers and women the most, making it very difficult for them to survive.

According to her, Merck Foundation decided to partner with the African First Ladies to support up to 1000 women and casual workers families in each country, with the aim to save their livelihood as part of “Separated but Connected” Merck Foundation Initiative”.

The food distribution in collaboration with Mrs. Weah Clar Hope Foundation, 100 bags of 25 kg rice with 100 three –gallon containers of vegetable oil was donated to the National Union of Organization of the Disabled in Monrovia on Friday, June 13,.

In continuation of the donation on Thursday, June 11, 160 bags of 25kg bags of rice and 160 containers three gloms of vegetable oil was presented to the elderly at the Holy Church of Christ in Kakata, Margibi County.

Meanwhile, Dr. Kelej stressed that it is sad to know that the pandemic has led to horrifying increase in violence against women.

She said the foundation has decided to focus on supporting women in coronavirus community intervention and strongly continue empowering infertile and childless women as part of its signature campaign “Merck More Than a Mother”, noting they need support more than ever”.