Category: English

Source: APO

Several hospitals in the Busoga sub region have gone for four months without essential medicines used in the treatment of sickle cell disease (SCD), worsening the burden faced by patients.

This was revealed on Monday, 08 September 2026 during an oversight visit by the Committee on Health to selected health facilities in the sub-region.

The committee, led by its Deputy Chairperson, Hon. Hope Nakazibwe, expressed concern after discovering that Hydroxyurea, one of the essential medicines used to manage SCD has been unavailable for months at Jinja Regional Referral Hospital, Mpumudde Health Centre IV and Buwenge General Hospital.

Hydroxyurea is a recommended World Health Organisation drug that helps reduce the frequency of sickle cell attacks, hospital admissions and mortality among patients.

Jinja Hospital, which serves about 4.5 million people, treats more than 2,000 sickle cell patients every month, a situation that has raised concern about the ability of ordinary families to meet the cost of medicines.

“For an ordinary Musoga, how many do we expect to afford these special specialised medicines on their own, it is next to impossible,” said Hon. Sarah Lwansasula (NUP, Jinja City Woman MP).

The hospital’s Senior Pharmacist, Mathias Mayanja, said the shortage has persisted despite efforts to have the medicine supplied through the national health system.

“National Medical Stores [NMS] put them on a programme where we do not pay, the Ministry of Health went ahead to direct CIPLA/Quality Chemicals Ltd to start manufacturing hydroxyurea – it is coming to six months but when we contacted NMS, they said the medicine was not available,” Mayanja said.

The hospital is also facing shortages of third-line antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) which are specialised medicines used for patients whose HIV has developed resistance to earlier treatment regimens.

Mayanja attributed the broader drug shortages to inadequate funding, saying the hospital requires significantly more money to provide all the medicines and supplies it needs.

The revelations prompted the committee to renew calls for government to prioritise sickle cell disease. Hon. Nakazibwe cited a parliamentary motion passed in March 2026 calling on government to prioritise sickle cell disease as a major health burden.

“I was among those who seconded a motion urging government to prioritise treatment of sickle cells disease as a health burden, we achieved by having government and the Ministry of Health support, we need to get information in time that it is not done, now that they are not supporting an area with the highest disease burden,” said Nakazibwe.

Hon. Timothy Batuwa (NUP, Jinja South Division West) said discussions are underway on the possibility of introducing bone marrow transplant services with the support of specialists. He also reiterated the need to fast-track the establishment of a regional blood bank, saying a reliable supply of blood would help reduce the burden faced by sickle cell patients.

Batuwa also raised concerns about the hospital’s ability to make full use of newly recruited specialised health workers in the face of consistent machine breakdown.

“The hospital has received super specialised health workers such as the neurosurgeon, but is there a budget to acquire the specialised equipment to ensure he transfers his knowledge to the people?  For example, do we have the visualisation advanced equipment, computerised navigation tools?” asked Batuwa.

His remarks followed a revelation by Peter Kisambira, a board member and also the Chairperson of the Finance and Development Committee at Jinja Hospital that the CT scan had been out of service for two months, while the oxygen plant had been down for four months.

Kisambira explained that a number of the hospital’s equipment is serviced by experts from Germany whose delayed travel to Uganda often prolongs the breakdowns.

A section of MPs on the health committee led by the chairperson, Hon. Julius Rude Monday, also visited Mbale Regional Referral Hospital as part of the broader visit to health facilities within the eastern region. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.

Source: APO

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The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Ms Nqabisa Gantsho joins the global community in commemorating the International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies, observed annually on 7 September, and calls for renewed commitment to protecting the constitutional right of all South Africans to an environment that is not harmful to their health or wellbeing.

The day serves as a reminder that clean air is fundamental to human health, environmental sustainability and economic development. Yet many South Africans continue to live and work in areas where air quality remains a significant concern, particularly in industrial and mining regions where communities are exposed to pollution associated with energy production, transport emissions and industrial activities.

South Africa continues to face the challenge of balancing economic growth and industrial development with environmental protection. Communities in priority air quality management areas, including parts of Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal  and Gauteng, have for many years raised concerns about the impact of poor air quality on public health, particularly among vulnerable groups such as children, older persons and those living with respiratory illnesses.

“As the committee, we recognise that clean air is not a privilege reserved for a few but a basic human right that must be enjoyed by all South Africans regardless of where they live,” said the Chairperson.

The committee acknowledges the efforts undertaken by government departments, municipalities, industry and civil society organisations to address air pollution. However, more needs to be done to strengthen monitoring systems, improve compliance and enforcement, accelerate the transition to cleaner energy sources, and ensure that environmental regulations are implemented effectively.

The International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies also provides an opportunity to reflect on the broader implications of air pollution for climate change, public health and sustainable development. The committee notes with concern that air pollution continues to contribute significantly to preventable illnesses and premature deaths across Africa. Urgent action is therefore required to reduce emissions and protect both people and the environment.

The committee further encourages citizens, businesses and public institutions to play their part by promoting sustainable practices, reducing pollution and supporting initiatives aimed at improving air quality.

“As we commemorate this important day, let us recommit ourselves to building a cleaner, healthier and more sustainable South Africa. Clean air is essential for the wellbeing of present and future generations, and it is our collective responsibility to safeguard it,” said the Chairperson.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.

Source: APO

Vodafone Business and Cassava Technologies (www.CassavaTechnologies.com) announced a strategic partnership to develop and enable advanced sovereign AI infrastructure in Egypt through the launch of the country’s first AI factory for operating diverse AI applications and use cases locally. This step aims to position Egypt as a regional hub for artificial intelligence and technology, enhance the country’s ability to host and process data, and leverage NVIDIA accelerated computing technologies through Vodafone’s partnership with Cassava Technologies, the first NVIDIA cloud partner in Africa. .

The impact of this partnership extends to government entities, key industry sectors, and consumers by providing full-stack AI infrastructure that supports local data hosting and processing in compliance with regulatory requirements. This enhances cybersecurity, offers greater control over data and its protection, accelerates the adoption of modern technologies, and enables organizations to develop more efficient and innovative AI solutions and services. It will also attract investments, support digital economy growth, and create new job opportunities in technology and innovation.

Commenting on the collaboration, Mahmoud El-Khatib, Vice President of Enterprise Business at Vodafone Egypt, said:

“Our partnership with Cassava Technologies marks a pivotal step in Vodafone Egypt’s technology journey and reflects our continued commitment to investing in digital infrastructure that enhances Egypt’s readiness for advanced technologies. Through this collaboration, we are strengthening Egypt’s AI infrastructure capabilities and developing sovereign AI solutions by leveraging locally hosted global technologies that ensure data residency within Egypt. This is achieved through the delivery of GPU-as-a-Service, enabling organizations to access advanced computing capabilities more efficiently and rapidly, supporting the country’s vision of building a more competitive digital economy, enhancing digital sovereignty, and attracting new investments in advanced cutting-edge technologies.”

“For Cassava, contributing to building Egypt’s AI ecosystem is an act of empowerment, not just a technological milestone. We are ensuring that African businesses aren’t just consumers of global tech—they are the architects of it,” said Ahmed El Beheiry, Group Chief Technology & AI Officer, CEO Cassava AI

“Our goal, from this partnership with Vodafone, is to give Egypt the infrastructure to unlock the potential of its technology industry and to allow it to contribute to the global AI innovation scene, without compromising sovereignty.”

This partnership enables organizations and government entities in Egypt to access NVIDIA AI infrastructure through Vodafone Business as a strategic partner, enhancing their ability to develop and operate AI applications at scale.

These capabilities are particularly important given the growing demand for accelerated computing, which forms the backbone of modern AI infrastructure for model training and inference at scale.

Additionally, this collaboration provides access to specialized training and enablement programs in the NVIDIA ecosystem, helping organizations build AI skills and deploy and manage AI solutions more effectively.

This development comes at a time when countries are complementing global public cloud services, with localised sovereign compute and AI-optimised neocloud services.

The partnership also enhances Egypt’s readiness to attract investments related to AI and advanced data centres by combining high-performance computing capabilities with local data hosting, supporting the development of a comprehensive sovereign AI ecosystem and reinforcing Egypt’s position as a regional hub for advanced technology and digital infrastructure.

This step aligns with Vodafone Egypt’s long-term investment strategy in the Egyptian market and its commitment to developing digital infrastructure. The AI factory represents a strategic project within Vodafone Egypt’s plan to invest more than EGP 20 billion during the current fiscal year, building on investments exceeding EGP 125 billion over 28 years, reflecting the company’s confidence in the Egyptian market.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Cassava Technologies.

About Vodafone Egypt:
Vodafone Egypt is a leading company in the telecommunications sector. Its strategy focuses on shaping the future of the digital world while placing customers at the core of its priorities. Over more than 28 years, the company has invested over EGP 125 billion to improve the lives of more than 55 million customers and deliver a tangible positive impact through a distinguished workforce of 10,000 employees.

Vodafone Egypt offers a wide range of innovative products and services aimed at delivering a seamless digital experience. It was the first telecom operator to launch a mobile wallet under the name “Vodafone Cash,” which made life easier for more than 20 million Egyptians through accessible digital and financial solutions. Furthermore, reinforcing its commitment to the communities it serves, Vodafone Egypt established the Vodafone Egypt Foundation for Community Development in 2003, investing EGP 700 million in impactful projects benefiting over 11 million Egyptians.

Vodafone Egypt is committed to delivering advanced telecommunications services that connect people for a better future while leveraging advanced technological solutions to enhance connectivity, enable business growth, and contribute to the development of sustainable communities.

About Cassava Technologies:
Cassava Technologies is a global technology leader providing a vertically integrated ecosystem of digital services and infrastructure enabling digital transformation. Headquartered in the UK, Cassava has a presence across Africa, the Middle East, Latin America and the United States of America. Through its business units, namely, Cassava AI, Liquid Intelligent Technologies, Liquid C2, Africa Data Centres, and Sasai Fintech, the company provides its customers’ products and services in 94 countries. These solutions drive the company’s ambition of establishing itself as a leading global technology company of African heritage. www.CassavaTechnologies.com 

Source: APO

The Bank of Uganda (BoU) has strengthened internal controls following security breaches, Governor Michael Atingi-Ego, has told Parliament.

Atingi-Ego said the central bank had reviewed its controls and addressed weaknesses following incidents that included the reported loss of laptops and allegations of systems being hacked.

He made the disclosure on Monday, 07 September 2026, while leading BoU officials before Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE), chaired by Hon. Muwada Nkunyingi.

Nkunyingi pressed the Governor to explain what had been done to safeguard the central bank and restore public confidence following reports of breaches at its headquarters.

In response, Atingi-Ego said: “We have looked at them and where there are any perceived weaknesses, we have strengthened them. And we are confident in that,” he added.

The Governor, however, rejected the description of one of the incidents as hacking, saying the matter involved fraudulent payments.

“First of all, can I correct you? There was no hacking in Bank of Uganda. There were fraudulent payments,” Atingi-Ego said.

He declined to disclose details of the controls introduced, saying doing so publicly could expose the bank to further risks.

“Chair, we cannot share our controls because the bad boys are out there. They will know what our controls are,” he said, adding that the details could be shared with the committee in camera.

The exchange came as COSASE scrutinised BoU’s financial statements and audit matters for the financial year ended 30 June 2025.

Atingi-Ego told the committee that the Auditor-General had issued an unmodified, or clean, audit opinion on the bank’s financial statements, saying the accounts gave a true and fair view of its financial position, performance and cash flows.

He said the two key audit matters identified expected credit losses on financial assets and litigation and contractual claims did not result in a qualification of the audit opinion.

The committee also raised concerns over loan terms, excessive recovery charges, manipulation of customers’ accounts and limited access to the central bank’s complaint-resolution mechanisms.

He described reliance on customer complaint boxes as “a lacklustre response”, asking BoU to establish a more accessible system through which members of the public can directly raise and have their complaints resolved.

Hon. Eliab Naturinda, the Ndorwa County West MP also challenged the central bank to take a stronger regulatory position against commercial banks accused of mistreating customers. He tasked the institution to regulate money lending using the mobile money.

The committee further questioned how borrowers were protected from unfavourable loan terms and aggressive recovery practices.

Nkuyingi cited complaints received by the committee alleging that some banks deduct money from customers’ accounts for recovery costs and bailiff fees while the underlying loans remain outstanding.

“You will find a customer who borrowed Shs5 million being charged Shs20 million for recovery and it went to a bailiff, but the loan is still existing,” he said.

He challenged BoU to demonstrate “practical and tangible efforts” to protect customers and investigate such practices.

Responding, Hannington Wasswa who represented the bank’s Executive Director for Supervision said the central bank had issued consumer protection guidelines requiring financial institutions to provide borrowers with a key facts document detailing the interest rate, repayment frequency, collateral and repayment schedule.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.

Source: APO

Senegal is taking a major step forward in transforming its education system. For the first time, the Government has adopted a structured national advocacy agenda in favor of foundational learning, with the institutional validation of the National Advocacy Strategy to support the scale-up of the Harmonized Bilingual Education Model in Senegal. Held at the Diamniadio Ministerial Sphere under the leadership of the Ministry of National Education, this meeting marks the shift from a reform that has demonstrated its potential to a national ambition driven by the State, with a clear objective: ensuring its institutionalization, sustainability and scale-up.

The National Advocacy Strategy thus aims to bring together ministries, local authorities, technical and financial partners, civil society, youth, communities, researchers, the private sector and the media around a shared vision for the future of foundational learning in Senegal.

A reform backed by concrete results

“MOHEBS” builds on encouraging results. An independent evaluation conducted by RTI International in 2023 showed a 29-percentage-point improvement in oral reading and comprehension among students benefiting from the model, compared to their peers educated solely in French.

Now deployed across the country’s 18 academies, the model today reaches more than 640.000 CI and CP pupils equipped with textbooks in national languages, supported by 12.116 trained teachers, 7.327 school principals and 339 inspectors.

These results strengthen Senegal’s ambition to make bilingualism a lever for sustainably improving learning outcomes and reducing educational inequalities.

Three priorities to turn achievements into lasting change

The National Advocacy Strategy is built around three complementary pillars:

• strengthening the institutional anchoring of “MOHEBS”;
• mobilizing sustainable national financing for its long-term sustainability and scale-up;
• strengthening social buy-in and citizen engagement around the reform.

Bringing together around a hundred participants, MEN authorities, technical ministries, technical and financial partners, civil society organizations, researchers, local authorities, the private sector and the media, the session helped strengthen the institutional and political ownership of “MOHEBS”, mobilize sustainable resources and broaden ownership of the model. It gathered guidance from political authorities, prompted concrete commitments from partners, and shared the monitoring, coordination and accountability mechanisms that will support the roll-out of the SNP.

« Our ambition is clear: to make “MOHEBS” an institutionalized reform, sustainably financed, progressively scaled up, evaluated and collectively championed by the Nation. It is on this condition that we will help build Senegal’s school system of 2035 », said Mr. Papa Malick NDAO, Secretary General of the Ministry of National Education, at the opening of the session.

From a project to a national ambition

With this National Advocacy Strategy, Senegal affirms its determination to make foundational learning a lasting national priority, placing government leadership, national financing and the mobilization of society as a whole at the heart of the scale-up of “MOHEBS”.

« The challenge now lies in sustaining, scaling up and firmly anchoring the reform », added Dr. Astou FALL, Programs Director at Speak Up Africa, who supported the Directorate of Elementary Education (DEE) in developing this strategy.

This momentum contributes more broadly to promoting foundational learning across the continent, notably through the Foundational Learning Hub (FLN Hub), and aligns with the ambitions of Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4) on inclusive, equitable and quality education.

At the close of the meeting, the National Advocacy Strategy was institutionally validated and will now serve as a national framework for mobilization, coordination and advocacy in support of scaling up “MOHEBS”.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Speak Up Africa.

About “MOHEBS”

The Harmonized Bilingual Education Model in Senegal “MOHEBS” is led by Senegal’s Ministry of National Education through its Directorate of Elementary Education. It aims to establish structured education in national languages and in French to sustainably improve foundational learning and reduce educational inequalities. Deployed across all regions of the country, “MOHEBS” is part of the curricular reform drive led by the Ministry, with the ambition of shaping, by 2035, citizens grounded in their African values while prepared for the challenges of sustainable development, digital technology and artificial intelligence.

About Speak Up Africa

Speak Up Africa is a pan-African advocacy and public policy organization based in Dakar, whose mission is to catalyze African leadership and shape public policy in favor of sustainable development across the continent. Within the framework of “MOHEBS”, Speak Up Africa, under the aegis of the Gates Foundation, acts as an implementing partner alongside the Ministry of National Education, and situates this reform within its broader drive to promote foundational learning in Africa, notably through the Foundational Learning Hub (FLN Hub).

Source: APO

Merck Foundation (www.Merck-Foundation.com), the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany, in partnership with the Africa’s First Ladies, also the Ambassadors of “Merck Foundation more Than a Mother” announced the winners of their Fashion, Song, and Film Awards 2025, under two themes: “More Than a Mother” and “Diabetes & Hypertension”. The theme of “More Than a Mother” Awards was to raise awareness on social issues such as: Breaking Infertility Stigma, Supporting Girl Education, Women Empowerment, Ending Child Marriage, Ending FGM, and/or Stopping GBV at all levels. The theme of “Diabetes and Hypertension” Awards was to promote a healthy lifestyle and raise awareness about prevention and early detection of Diabetes and Hypertension in African countries.

Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej (Ret.) expressed, “I am incredibly proud to announce the winners of the 2025 Merck Foundation Fashion, Song and Film Awards together with my dear sisters, African First Ladies, who are also the Ambassadors of “Merck Foundation More Than a Mother”.

I congratulate our 50 winners from 15 African countries. I am truly impressed by the quality and quantity of the entries we received this year. Our winners have creatively and effectively conveyed important social and health awareness messages through their work. I have always believed that fashion and art play a crucial role in raising awareness about health and sensitive social issues.”

Merck Foundation also announced the Call for Applications for the 2026 Edition of Merck Foundation Fashion, Song & Film Awards ‘More Than a Mother’ and ‘Diabetes & Hypertension’, in partnership with First Ladies of Africa and Asia.

“We invite the young talents to submit their creative work, carrying powerful messages that break the silence,” she added.

Here is the list of Merck Foundation FASHION Awards “More Than a Mother” 2025 Winners:

• Ropafadzo Mapira, ZIMBABWE, First Position
• Adebayo Balikis Ireti, NIGERIA, First Position
• Mame Bara Gaye, SENEGAL, Second Position
• Serigne Modou Diouf, SENEGAL, Second Position
• Johannes Medard Tairo, TANZANIA, Second Position
• Niyigena Angella, UGANDA, Second Position
• Giovanni Peter Gazigile, TANZANIA, Third Position
• Kutesa Tyson Vicent, UGANDA, Third Position
• Linda Ngwira, ZAMBIA, Third Position
• Gibstar Makangila, ZAMBIA, Third Position
• Mercy Duke, ZIMBABWE, Third Position
• Oluwatosin Oloruntobi Adeyanju, NIGERIA, Third Position
• Ngatendwe Hope Gowera, NAMIBIA, Third Position

Here are the Winners of Merck Foundation FASHION Awards “Diabetes & Hypertension” 2025:

• Christianah Adebimpe Dare, NIGERIA, First position
• Lynn Chipendo, ZIMBABWE, First position
• Beatricia Lucas, NAMIBIA, Second Position
• Tinotenda Nissi Mafusire, ZAMBIA, Second Position
• Oloyede Eniola Sunday, NIGERIA, Second Position
• Isabel Mawusinu Kulafe, GHANA, Third Position
• Mercy Njeri Daniel, KENYA, Third Position
• Hezra Carolina Gove, MOZAMBIQUE, Third Position

Here is the list of winners of Merck Foundation ‘More Than a Mother’ Song Awards 2025:

English Language

• Vincent Owino, KENYA, First Position
• Alice Eze, NIGERIA, First Position
• Maureen Kabasiita, UGANDA, Second Position
• Warren Frank Kawiche, TANZANIA, Third Position
• OBED Murphy Agai, NIGERIA, Third Position
• Christianah Adebimpe Dare, NIGERIA, Third Position
• Cardi Shembazè, NIGERIA, Third Position
• Neema Nasirumbi, KENYA, Third Position

French Language

• Kumbuka Bashonga Jeremie, DRC, First Position
• Ndiouga FALL, SENEGAL, First Position
• Brake Mackaya, GABON, Second Position
• Natty Stelle KOKOLO, SENEGAL, Third Position

Local Language

• Coumba Coly, SENEGAL, First Position
• Bigirimana Linah Blanche, BURUNDI, First Position

Here is the list of winners of Merck Foundation ‘Diabetes & Hypertension’ Song Awards 2025:

English Language

• Jasmin Dally Koech, KENYA, First Position
• Omotola Ijaola, NIGERIA, Second Position
• Dr Ndumiso Tshuma, SOUTH AFRICA, Third Position

French Language

• Étienne Kasereka, DRC, First Position
• Nantenaina Andriamorasata, MADAGASCAR, Second Position

Here is the list of winners of Merck Foundation ‘More Than a Mother’ Film Awards 2025:

English Language

• Calvin Oyula, KENYA, First Position
• Temitope Adebisi Adeyanju, NIGERIA, Second Position
• Bartholomew Sey, GHANA, Third Position

French Language

• Baderhwa Benoit, GABON, First Position
• David LeGrand F, GABON, First Position
• Thierno Seydou Nouro SY, SENEGAL, Second Position
• Meye Fabien, GABON, Second Position

Here is the list of winners of Merck Foundation ‘Diabetes & Hypertension’ Film Awards 2025:

• Mukendi Wabiuma Josué Yann, GABON, First Position
• Stephano Bloquet, MAURITIUS, Second Position
• Denis Manuel, NAMIBIA, Second Position

As part of their Community Awareness Program, Merck Foundation has released more than 30 songs in English, French, Portuguese, and local languages, with the aim to address important issues like Breaking Infertility Stigma, Supporting Girl Education, Women Empowerment, and Diabetes Awareness.

Click here to listen to Merck Foundation Songs:

https://apo-opa.co/468b99A

Moreover, Merck Foundation has also released a series of Animation Films in English, French, Portuguese, Swahilli and Spanish to address a wide range of social and health issues.

Watch Merck Foundation’s More Than a Mother Animation Film: https://apo-opa.co/4qXZaou

Merck Foundation CEO has also conceptualized, produced, directed, and co-hosted ‘Our Africa by Merck Foundation,’ a pan-African TV program designed to feature African Fashion Designers, Singers, and prominent experts from various fields with the aim of raising awareness and creating a culture shift across Africa. Watch the Promo: https://apo-opa.co/4yLwlyz

The TV program has been broadcasted on prime TV stations in several countries, capturing the attention and hearts of millions of viewers across the continent. “Our Africa” TV Program is also available on social media handles of Dr. Rasha Kelej (Facebook (https://apo-opa.co/4gWsZBu), Instagram (https://apo-opa.co/4yiztBE), Twitter (https://apo-opa.co/4cB6q3T) and YouTube (https://apo-opa.co/46bNDZi) and Merck Foundation (Facebook (https://apo-opa.co/46KCLlc), Instagram (https://apo-opa.co/4xULFsg), Twitter (https://apo-opa.co/4d1fdMA) and YouTube (https://apo-opa.co/46dKWGA)).

Details of Merck Foundation Awards 2026:

1. Merck Foundation Africa Media Recognition Awards “More Than a Mother” 2026: Media representatives and media students from African Countries are invited to showcase their work to raise awareness about one or more of the following social issues such as: Breaking Infertility Stigma, Supporting Girl Education, Women Empowerment, Ending Child Marriage, Ending FGM, and/ or Stopping GBV at all levels.

Submitting multiple applications will increase the chances of winning the award.

Submission deadline: 30th September 2026.

2. Merck Foundation Film Awards “More Than a Mother” 2026:  All African Filmmakers, Students of Film Making Training Institutions, or Young Talents of Africa are invited to create and share a long or short FILMS, either drama, documentary, or docudrama to deliver strong and influential messages to address one or more of the following social issues such as: Breaking Infertility Stigma, Supporting Girl Education, Women Empowerment, Ending Child Marriage, Ending FGM, and/ or Stopping GBV at all levels.

Submission deadline: 30th September 2026.

3. Merck Foundation Fashion Awards “More Than a Mother” 2026: All African Fashion Students and Designers are invited to create and share designs to deliver strong and influential messages to raise awareness about one or more of the following social issues such as: Breaking Infertility Stigma, Supporting Girl Education, Women Empowerment, Ending Child Marriage, Ending FGM, and/ or Stopping GBV at all levels.

Submission deadline: 30th September 2026.

4. Merck Foundation Song Awards “More Than a Mother” 2026: All African Singers and Musical Artists are invited to create and share a SONG with the aim to address one or more of the following social issues such as: Breaking Infertility Stigma, Supporting Girl Education, Women Empowerment, Ending Child Marriage, Ending FGM, and/ or Stopping GBV at all levels.

Submission deadline: 30th September 2026.

5. Merck Foundation Media Recognition Awards “Diabetes & Hypertension” 2026:

Media representatives from African, Asian and Latin American Countries are invited to showcase their work through strong and influential messages to promote a healthy lifestyle, raise awareness about the prevention and early detection of Diabetes and Hypertension.

Submitting multiple applications will increase the chances of winning the award.

Submission deadline: 30th October 2026.

6. Merck Foundation Film Awards “Diabetes & Hypertension” 2026: All African Filmmakers, Students of Film Making Training Institutions or Young Talents of Africa are invited to create and share a long or short FILMS, either drama, documentary or docudrama to deliver strong and influential messages to promote a healthy lifestyle, raise awareness about prevention and early detection of Diabetes and Hypertension.

Submission deadline: 30th October 2026.

7. Merck Foundation Fashion Awards “Diabetes & Hypertension” 2026: All African Fashion Students and Designers are invited to create and share designs to deliver strong and influential messages to promote a healthy lifestyle, raise awareness about prevention and early detection of Diabetes and Hypertension.

Submission deadline: 30th October 2026.

8. Merck Foundation Song Awards “Diabetes & Hypertension” 2026: All African Singers and Musical Artists are invited to create and share a SONG with the aim to promote a healthy lifestyle, raise awareness about prevention and early detection of Diabetes and Hypertension.

Submission deadline: 30th October 2026.

Apply: https://apo-opa.co/4yrTdCV

Entries can also be submitted via email to: submit@merck-foundation.com

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Merck Foundation.

Contact:
Mehak Handa
Community Awareness Program Manager 
Phone: +91 9310087613/ +91 9319606669
Email: mehak.handa@external.merckgroup.com

Join the conversation on our social media platforms below and let your voice be heard!
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Website: www.Merck-Foundation.com
Download Merck Foundation App: https://apo-opa.co/4xEVPgJ

About Merck Foundation:
The Merck Foundation, established in 2017, is the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany, aims to improve the health and wellbeing of people and advance their lives through science and technology. Our efforts are primarily focused on improving access to quality & equitable healthcare solutions in underserved communities, building healthcare & scientific research capacity, empowering girls in education and empowering people in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) with a special focus on women and youth. All Merck Foundation press releases are distributed by e-mail at the same time they become available on the Merck Foundation Website. Please visit www.Merck-Foundation.com to read more. Follow the social media of Merck Foundation: Facebook (https://apo-opa.co/4gWsZBu), X (https://apo-opa.co/4r3cGYf), Instagram (https://apo-opa.co/4xULFsg), YouTube (https://apo-opa.co/46dKWGA), Threads (https://apo-opa.co/4d76Q21) and Flickr (https://apo-opa.co/3TeS6rf).

The Merck Foundation is dedicated to improving social and health outcomes for communities in need. While it collaborates with various partners, including governments to achieve its humanitarian goals, the foundation remains strictly neutral in political matters. It does not engage in or support any political activities, elections, or regimes, focusing solely on its mission to elevate humanity and enhance well-being while maintaining a strict non-political stance in all of its endeavors.