Category: English

Source: APO

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United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Barham Salih, today underscored the need for urgent humanitarian assistance and protection for people fleeing the brutal war in Sudan, and for greater support for refugees to rebuild their lives with dignity.

During his first official overseas trip as High Commissioner, Salih met Sudanese refugee families who had fled the vicious fighting in Darfur only days earlier; many had been displaced multiple times since the conflict began. They described years of violent attacks and human rights abuses. Salih spoke with women who had been raped, and to people whose parents had been killed, arriving in Chad with only what they could carry and the hope of safety.

“What is unfolding in Sudan is a humanitarian calamity of overwhelming scale. Chad’s generous welcome of refugees is a powerful act of solidarity,” Salih said. “By keeping its borders open and protecting refugees, Chad is offering people safety, dignity and legal status. These are the foundations on which solutions can be built so refugees can start to rebuild their lives and contribute to society.”

Since April 2023, more than 900,000 Sudanese refugees have arrived in eastern Chad, with new arrivals every day. Sudan is now the world’s largest and most devastating displacement crisis, with 12 million people currently displaced, including more than 4.3 million refugees across the region. Salih made a strong plea for the international community to make every effort to bring peace to Sudan, paving the way for refugees to return home.

UNHCR continues to support the life-saving response in this part of Chad, but conditions in refugee settlements remain harsh, impacted by the dwindling funding. Many families lack shelter, water supplies are far below emergency standards, and overcrowded sanitation facilities pose increasing health risks. Trauma levels are high and mental health support reaches only a fraction of those in need, while many children remain out of school.

“People in eastern Chad are in acute need, but due to a lack of funds, the assistance provided is nowhere near the minimum level required. The responsibility to host these refugees has fallen on Chad, but other countries must rally to support it: it cannot be expected to shoulder such responsibility alone,” added Salih. “Refugees here may be safe from immediate harm, but they need opportunities through education, work and livelihoods to build a future.”

Salih visited programmes that build self-reliance for both refugees and host communities. In Iridimi, he spoke to refugee learners acquiring digital and language skills to support their education and access the job market. In Farchana, he visited market gardens where refugees and host communities grow and sell crops together. In Abeche, he met a group of lawyers, doctors and teachers displaced from Sudan who are now able to practise their professions in Chad.

Despite its challenges, Chad continues to uphold international protection and provide access to asylum at scale. Salih met President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno in N’Djamena, and reaffirmed UNHCR’s commitment to supporting refugees and host communities alongside the Government, paying tribute to communities that have generously welcomed refugees despite economic hardship and environmental pressures. Furthermore, Salih reiterated UNHCR’s readiness to work with the Government and all other stakeholders to implement the Integrated Settlement Approach, through which services are established or enhanced for both refugees and host communities, and economic opportunities are shared.

“Visiting Chad and Kenya this last week, both countries clearly demonstrate how, with sustained international support, inclusive policies can move us from responding to displacement emergencies towards providing solutions,” Salih said. “When refugees are protected and included, they can rebuild their lives and contribute to the societies that host them. This is what I am seeing here, and this is the direction in which we must travel.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

Source: APO – Report:

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That’s according to UN human rights chief Volker Türk, who had discussions with over 40 leaders of Sudanese civil society in Northern State’s capital, Dongola, this week. 

“But these representatives have also found the solution,” Mr. Türk said in a video on X. “There needs to be an all-out effort, both within Sudan and by the international community to help them, to facilitate their work.”

The conflict in Sudan which erupted in 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the armed group Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has uprooted some 9.3 million people and has brought about one of the world’s largest hunger crises. 

Mr. Türk began his visit on Wednesday and is meeting with Sudanese authorities, civil society, humanitarian partners and people displaced by the conflict in Darfur and Kordofan. He will be holding two press conferences at the end of his visit on 18 January.

Chad shows ‘act of solidarity’ 

Since April 2023, more than 900,000 Sudanese refugees have arrived in eastern Chad, with new arrivals every day, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) said on Friday. 

The newly-appointed UN High Commissioner for Refugees Barham Salih visited Chad this week for the first time in this capacity, where he met with Sudanese refugee families and local authorities.

Many of the refugees he met had been displaced multiple times since the conflict began. They described years of violent attacks and human rights abuses. 

“What is unfolding in Sudan is a humanitarian calamity of overwhelming scale. Chad’s generous welcome of refugees is a powerful act of solidarity,” Mr. Salih said. 

From displacement to solutions 

Mr. Salih also acknowledged the host communities that have welcomed refugees despite economic hardship and environmental pressure. 

He reiterated UNHCR’s readiness to work with the Government and others to facilitate economic opportunity and provide services for both refugees and the host communities.

“Visiting Chad and Kenya this last week, both countries clearly demonstrate how, with sustained international support, inclusive policies can move us from responding to displacement emergencies towards providing solutions,” Mr. Salih emphasised.

“When refugees are protected and included, they can rebuild their lives and contribute to the societies that host them. This is what I am seeing here, and this is the direction in which we must travel.”

– on behalf of UN News.

Source: APO – Report:

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The President of the Republic, Dr. Patrick Herminie, has reaffirmed Seychelles’ global leadership in climate and ocean governance as Guest of Honour and Keynote Speaker at the Blue Forum, held on the margins of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) 2026.

Delivering the keynote address at the Forum’s inauguration on Thursday 15th January, President Herminie issued a strong call for collective global action, urging governments, financiers, and innovators to work together through cooperation, innovation, and sustained investment to build resilient, inclusive, and sustainable water and ocean systems.

The President underscored that water—freshwater, coastal, and ocean systems alike—has become one of the world’s most critical and vulnerable natural resources, underpinning food security, energy production, trade, livelihoods, and ecosystems. He cautioned that decades of fragmented governance, where land, water, and ocean systems have been planned and financed in isolation, have weakened global resilience and increased exposure to climate and economic shocks.

“As climate impacts intensify, resilience cannot be built in silos,” President Herminie stated, emphasizing the urgent need for integrated, systems-based ‘source-to-sea’ management that recognises the interdependence of terrestrial, freshwater, coastal, and marine environments.

Speaking from the perspective of a Small Island Developing State (SIDS), the President highlighted Seychelles’ unique vulnerabilities, while positioning the country as a practical global leader in climate action and the Blue Economy. He outlined Seychelles’ achievements, including the designation of over 30 per cent of its ocean territory as marine protected areas, surpassing global biodiversity targets, and the implementation of marine spatial planning, sustainable fisheries management, and coastal protection initiatives.

President Herminie also drew attention to the recent severe drought experienced by Seychelles, using it as a stark illustration of the interconnected challenges of climate change, water security, and ocean health. He stressed that addressing these risks requires innovative financing mechanisms, cross-sectoral policy alignment, and the strategic use of digital technologies to strengthen adaptation and resilience.

The President expressed appreciation for Seychelles’ strong international partnerships, notably with India, China, and the United Arab Emirates, highlighting the UAE’s recent support for desalination projects that have significantly enhanced Seychelles’ drought resilience and water security.

Concluding his address, President Herminie reaffirmed Seychelles’ readiness to collaborate globally, share lessons learned, and advocate for aligned policies, scaled and predictable financing, and technological advancement to safeguard water and ocean systems.

President Herminie is attending the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2026 accompanied by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Diaspora, Mr. Barry Faure; the Minister for Environment, Climate Change, Energy and Natural Resources, Ms. Marie-May Jeremie; the Minister for Investment and Industries, Ms. Geralda Desaubin; and the Ambassador of the Republic of Seychelles to the United Arab Emirates, Mr. Gervais Moumou.

– on behalf of State House Seychelles.

Source: APO – Report:

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President Cyril Ramaphosa hosted Colonel Michael Randrianirina, President of the Refoundation of the Republic of Madagascar, for a briefing at Mahlamba Ndlopfu, the Official Residence in Pretoria.

Colonel Randrianirina briefed President Ramaphosa on the steps being taken towards a peaceful transitional process, which includes a national dialogue amongst all the people of Madagascar. 

President Ramaphosa welcomed the briefing and, in line with the decision of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), took the opportunity to reiterate the need to support Madagascar’s transition to constitutional democracy with an inclusive national dialogue that will lead to elections as soon as possible.

In this regard, President Ramaphosa reaffirmed SADC’s decision to deploy the Panel of the Elders to Madagascar. 

– on behalf of The Presidency of the Republic of South Africa.

Source: APO – Report:

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Through its Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS), the ECOWAS Commission conferred with a delegation from the Kingdom of the Netherlands on the 14th of January 2026 in Abuja, Nigeria.

Led by the Kingdom’s special envoy for the Sahel and Head of Division West Africa, Robert Zimmerman, the delegation’s courtesy visit was among others, meant to engender the strengthening of peace building collaboration and strategic partnership in aid of greater integration of the region.

In an opening remark, Amb Zimmerman highlighted three core areas of cooperation interest as Security and Stability, Migration as well as Economic Cooperation and Trade. Noting that the ECOWAS Commission can count on the Support of the Netherlands on cross border cooperation, he said his country was looking forward to discussing the future of ECOWAS in relation to the Alliance of Sahel States (AES)

Speaking on behalf of the Commissioner, Political Affairs, Peace and Security, the Head Civilian Component of the Directorate of Peacekeeping and Regional Security, Mr. Bekaye Coulibaly sought greater collaboration from the Kingdom of Netherlands in the revamp of regional integration, intense engagement in aid of the fight against terrorism as well as the activation of the ECOWAS Standby Force (ESF).

He also conveyed the salient strategic programmes of the Department of Political Affairs Peace and Security to the delegation which included the continuous engagement with leaders of the AES and a strong resolve to ensure that the withdrawal of the Sahelian states from the regional community does not negatively affect the citizens of the countries.

Also, on hand for discussions the Deputy Head of Mission of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Nigeria Mr. Ronald Sonnemans and first secretary, Security and ECOWAS relations Dineke Traore-Vrolijk.

– on behalf of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Source: APO – Report:

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The upcoming Libya Energy & Economic Summit (LEES) 2026 – taking place in Tripoli from January 24-26 – will host a dedicated UK-Libya Roundtable, convened by the Libyan British Business Council (LBBC) and the UK Embassy in Libya. The roundtable comes at a time when British companies are advancing strategic re-entry into active exploration, redevelopment and infrastructure delivery across Libya’s energy sector.

As a non-political body promoting bilateral trade between the UK and Libya, the LBBC continues to facilitate market access through trade delegations, regulatory support and strategic engagement with Libyan institutions. In addition to the UK-Libya Roundtable, LEES 2026 will feature a dedicated UK national pavilion, providing a platform for UK firms across upstream, midstream, services and infrastructure development.

As of January 2026, British major bp is undergoing its most significant operational expansion in Libya since 2007. The company is preparing, alongside operator Eni, to spud Libya’s first-ever deepwater exploration well in the offshore Sirte Basin, targeting a gas prospect at approximately 1,900m of water depth. bp is also progressing plans for further onshore exploration in the Ghadames Basin during 2026 following its pre-qualification for Libya’s first international licensing round in 18 years. These activities position the supermajor as a cornerstone partner in supporting the country’s state-owned National Oil Corporation’s (NOC) objective of reaching two million barrels per day (bpd) by 2030.

Shell is likewise transitioning into active technical assessment phases in early 2026 following its re-engagement with Libya. The company is advancing feasibility studies on the Al-Atshan field near the Algerian border and evaluating additional NOC-owned assets requiring modernization to support production.

These activities build on a series of strategic milestones achieved in 2025. bp and Shell both signed memoranda of understanding with the NOC in July 2025 to evaluate large-scale field redevelopment, exploration opportunities and infrastructure modernization, while confirming plans to reopen permanent offices in Tripoli to manage expanding project portfolios. Over the same period, bilateral UK-Libya trade reached £2.5 billion, reflecting renewed commercial confidence following regulatory and institutional stabilization.

Against this backdrop, LEES 2026 comes at a pivotal moment for UK-Libya energy cooperation, with the roundtable set to provide a structured forum to consolidate this momentum and advance long-term partnerships supporting Libya’s production growth, infrastructure renewal and investment-led recovery.

Join industry leaders at the Libya Energy & Economic Summit 2026 in Tripoli and explore investment opportunities in one of North Africa’s most dynamic energy markets. LEES 2026 offers a premier platform for partnerships, innovation and sector growth. Visit www.LibyaSummit.com to secure your participation. To sponsor or participate as a delegate, please contact sales@energycapitalpower.com.

– on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

Source: APO

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Libyan Prime Minister Abdulhamid Al-Dbeibeh will deliver a keynote address at the Libya Energy & Economic Summit (LEES), taking place January 24–26, 2026 at the Tripoli International Convention Center. His participation underscores the government’s continued engagement with international investors as Libya enters a new phase of energy-led economic development.

Prime Minister Al-Dbeibeh’s attendance comes as Libya advances a broader national agenda aimed at stabilizing energy output, modernizing infrastructure and positioning the sector as a cornerstone of economic recovery and institutional reform. Under the government’s leadership, energy development is being aligned with priorities including fiscal sustainability, power sector reliability and renewed engagement with international partners.

Several large-scale developments are shaping Libya’s energy outlook. Among the most significant is the $8 billion Structures A&E offshore gas project, a 50/50 joint venture between Eni and the National Oil Corporation (NOC) under Mellitah Oil & Gas, expected to add approximately 750 million cubic feet per day to domestic and export supply. The Western Libya Gas Project continues to deliver gas to Italy via the Greenstream pipeline, drawing production from both offshore and onshore fields.

As part of efforts to reach crude oil production of 1.6 million barrels per day by the end of 2026, Libya is pursuing brownfield redevelopment, marginal field commercialization and major upstream investments. TotalEnergies and ConocoPhillips are advancing modernization programs at the Waha concessions, targeting additional output from the North Gialo and NC-98 fields. TotalEnergies is also progressing the restart of the Mabruk field, with initial production expected in early 2026. At the El Sharara field, infill drilling and infrastructure upgrades are maintaining current production levels, while new exploration and surface facility projects are advancing in adjacent areas.

Libya’s energy strategy also extends beyond hydrocarbons, with a 500 MW solar PV project slated for commissioning in 2026, alongside upgrades to gas-to-power infrastructure designed to strengthen domestic electricity supply and enhance grid reliability. The Summit comes at a pivotal moment, as the government seeks to boost investor confidence, clarify regulatory frameworks and position energy development as a key driver of long-term economic stability and growth.

Join industry leaders at the Libya Energy & Economic Summit 2026 in Tripoli and explore investment opportunities in one of North Africa’s most dynamic energy markets. LEES 2026 offers a premier platform for partnerships, innovation and sector growth. Visit www.LibyaSummit.com to secure your participation. To sponsor or participate as a delegate, please contact sales@energycapitalpower.com.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

Source: APO

• NBA REC University Tournament Will Feature Men’s and Women’s Teams from 40 Public and Private Universities Across Five Cities in Egypt
• Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Tournament Will Expand to Include Nearly 150 Boys’ and Girls’ Teams from More than 50 Private Schools in Alexandria and Cairo

NBA Africa (www.NBA.com) and Senyorita For Food Industries, a leading manufacturer of snack foods in Egypt, through its chip brand Lion, yesterday announced a collaboration to launch the NBA’s first university basketball tournament on the continent and the largest Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA tournament ever in Egypt.

The announcement was made by Senyorita Chief Operating Officer Sherif El Nokaly and Head of NBA Egypt Mohamed Motaleb-Abdel Soliman at a signing ceremony in Cairo.

The NBA REC University Tournament will feature 3-on-3 competition between men’s and women’s teams from 40 public and private universities across five cities: Alexandria, Assyiut, Cairo, Giza and Mansoura.  Operated by Events Plus, the league will tip off in April and conclude with the playoffs and finals in Cairo in May.

Lion joins existing partners Allianz and Maven Developments as Official Partners of the Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA tournament in Egypt, which this year will expand to include nearly 150 boys’ and girls’ teams of youth ages 14 and under from more than 50 private schools in Cairo, and for the first time, Alexandria.  The expanded tournament – also operated by Events Plus – tipped off in Dec. 2025 with the Eastern Conference in New Cairo and the Western Conference in New Giza and will culminate with the playoffs in February and finals in April.

“Our collaboration with the NBA aligns perfectly with our mission to bring people together,” said Nokaly.  “Whether it’s families, fans, or young athletes, we’re proud to support and inspire athletic communities through both great snacks and great moments.”

“Our collaboration with Senyorita is a significant milestone in our ongoing efforts to create more opportunities for Egyptian youth to learn and play basketball,” said Soliman.  “The NBA REC University Tournament and Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA tournament will provide structured environments for aspiring players across the country to progress in their development while learning important values like teamwork, leadership and respect.”

The Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA, the league’s global youth basketball program for boys and girls, teaches the fundamental skills and core values of the game – teamwork, respect, determination and community – at the grassroots level in an effort to help grow and improve the youth basketball experience for players, coaches and parents.  Last year, Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA programming reached more than 390,000 youth in more than 40 countries across Africa.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of National Basketball Association (NBA).

Contacts:
Amanda Khumalo
NBA Africa Communications
akhumalo@nba.com
+27 64 099 4878

Mariam Bahgat
Senyorita Marketing Director
+1 (470) 269 8485

About Senyorita:
Senyorita is a leading producer of high-quality, delicious, and innovative snack foods crafted to bring joy to every moment.  With a commitment to exceptional taste, top-grade ingredients, and continuous product development, Senyorita has become a trusted household name for families seeking convenient and flavorful snack options.  Our diverse portfolio—from classic crisps to bold, modern flavors—reflects our passion for creating unforgettable snacking experiences.  At Senyorita, we believe great taste should be shared, and we work every day to deliver products that inspire smiles, spark excitement, and turn ordinary moments into something special.

About NBA Africa:
NBA Africa is an affiliate of the National Basketball Association (NBA), a global sports and media organization with the mission to inspire and connect people everywhere through the power of basketball.  NBA Africa conducts the league’s business in Africa, including the Basketball Africa League (BAL), and has opened subsidiary offices in Cairo, Egypt; Dakar, Senegal; Johannesburg, South Africa; Lagos, Nigeria; and Nairobi, Kenya.  The league’s efforts on the continent have focused on increasing access to basketball and the NBA through youth and elite development, social responsibility, media distribution, corporate partnerships, NBA Africa Games, NBA Stores, the BAL, and more.

NBA games and programming are available in all 54 African countries, and the NBA has hosted three sold-out exhibition games on the continent since 2015.  The BAL, a partnership between the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and NBA Africa, is a professional league featuring 12 club teams from across Africa that concluded its fifth season in June 2025.  Fans can follow @ NBAAfrica on Facebook and YouTube, @ nbaafricaofficial on Instagram, @ NBA_Africa on X, and @ theBAL on Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.

Source: APO

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Greenpeace has announced that its Rainbow Warrior ship will dock at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town, South Africa this January, bringing with it a quintessential example of salt-crusted irony. Greenpeace, which actively protests against oil companies, will use petroleum-powered cars to get there, wearing synthetic, oil-based clothing while taking pictures and tweeting from phones made from critical minerals and oil – the very products of the industry they want to dismantle.

Used as a tool to protest the very energy resources that stand to lift Africa out of energy poverty, Greenpeace is offering a “once-in-a-lifetime experience” to tour the ship. But as their ship docks in one of Africa’s harbors, one must ask: why does Greenpeace’s narrative for Africa’s energy future demand absolute restraint while its own global operations continue to rely on the very fossil fuels it insists African nations must leave in the ground?

While Greenpeace routinely urges African nations to leave their fossil resources undeveloped, its own operations underscore the impracticality of such views. The organization’s flagship vessel Rainbow Warrior is frequently cited as a symbol of clean activism – yet its design tells a more inconvenient truth. Despite incorporating wind-assisted sails, battery systems and efficiency-focused architecture, the ship still relies on diesel-electric engines powered by marine gas oil – a refined fossil fuel – for propulsion, maneuvering and operational reliability. Greenpeace itself acknowledges that wind power merely reduces fuel consumption rather than eliminating it altogether.

This reality exposes a clear double standard: while Greenpeace accepts fossil fuels as a necessary operational compromise for its global campaigns, it simultaneously campaigns for Africa to forgo oil and gas development entirely – resources that underpin electricity access, industrialization and fiscal stability for hundreds of millions of people. The evidence from Greenpeace’s own vessel confirms what African energy policymakers have long argued: fossil fuels remain structurally embedded in modern systems, and demanding that Africa abandon them – while NGOs continue to depend on them – is neither honest nor equitable.

“A wealthy western NGO parading Africa in a fancy boat, eating caviar and goat cheese, while drinking matcha with almond milk, telling Africans to stop oil and gas is shocking to say the least. It kind of takes your breath away. It gives Chutzpah a new meaning,” says NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman, African Energy Chamber.

With over 600 million people living without access to electricity, 900 million people living without access to clean cooking solutions and millions dying from biomass-associated health risks, the continent cannot afford to leave its oil and gas resources in the ground. But organizations such as Greenpeace continue to oppose this strategy, launching attacks on projects, deterring investments and impacting any meaningful progress to make energy poverty history.   

By blocking seismic surveys in South Africa and lobbying against the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), these foreign-funded NGOs are engaging in a form of economic sabotage. They are effectively telling Africa: “You may have the resources to power your own industrialization, but you are not allowed to use them.” Projects such as EACOP offer a lifeline for many communities in East Africa. The pipeline will not only transport crude from Uganda’s oilfields to international markets via Tanzania, but generate the revenue that can transform local infrastructure, power homes and develop strong, resilient economies. The same can be said for South Africa – home to significant offshore and onshore hydrocarbon resources that could, if extracted, stabilize the economy, eliminate load-shedding and power the country for decades to come.

“If fossil fuels remain necessary for Greenpeace to run its own operations, then it is neither credible nor justifiable to demand that Africa leave its resources undeveloped while millions remain without electricity, jobs or industrial opportunity,” Ayuk notes, adding “Africa needs energy to industrialize and create jobs. There is more dignity in work than in accepting foreign aid. The main goal of Greenpeace and its western funders is to keep Africa under developed and in energy poverty. We must not let them.”

The next time you see a Greenpeace boat on the horizon, remember: that ship is a monument to the very industry they want to destroy. They are enjoying the fruits of the energy industry while trying to deny those same fruits to a continent that needs them most.

“The African Energy Chamber believes Africans should make their own when it comes to oil development, not foreign NGO’S. Most Africans without electricity can’t even afford the Greenpeace boat ride. Think about that,” he concludes. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

Source: APO

Merck Foundation (www.Merck-Foundation.com), the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA, Germany, in partnership with African and Asian First Ladies, released a new children’s storybook and its animation film adaptation titled “Ray of Hope” to raise awareness about cancer, with a special focus on early detection, prevention and access to quality cancer care specially in childhood cancer. The storybook and animation film were launched by Merck Foundation Chairman and CEO, together with First Ladies of Burundi, Central Africa, The Gambia, Liberia, Nigeria, São Tomé & Príncipe and Senegal, who are also the Ambassadors of “Merck Foundation More Than a Mother”, during the Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative (MFFLI) Committee Meeting. The MFFLI Committee Meeting was organized as part of the 12^th Edition of the Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary, which took place in The Gambia.

Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej (Ret.), CEO of Merck Foundation expressed, “I am very proud to release today our new children’s storybook and animation film on cancer awareness, in partnership with my dear sisters, African First Ladies.

While Childhood cancer is one of the most difficult journeys, not only for young patients but also for their families and communities. Yet, with early detection and timely treatment, there is a good chance of recovery and the possibility of a long and healthier future as majority of Pediatric cancer are treatable. Therefore, I made sure that providing scholarships of cancer care for African healthcare providers is a main part of our strategy. Not only this but also to focus on Pediatric oncology training as much as we can.”  

“Our storybook, “Ray of Hope” highlights this objective via sharing the journey of a young girl named Hope, who faces cancer with courage, resilience, and, above all, hope. The story also raises awareness about the importance of having access to a well-trained cancer care team to recognize early warning signs which you will know about when you read this storybook. These signs should never be ignored, as early detection saves lives,” she added.

Read ‘Ray of Hope’ storybook here:

https://apo-opa.co/3ZhICuA

Watch ‘Ray of Hope’ animation film here:

https://apo-opa.co/45f9C1q

Cancer is now a major public health problem in sub-Saharan Africa, with the disease among the three leading causes of premature death.

Dr. Rasha Kelej further shared, “It is important to note that nearly two-thirds of cancer cases can be treated if diagnosed early, and as many as one-third can be prevented by reducing risk factors such as exposure to radiation, certain infections, lifestyle-related causes, and more. The story raises awareness about the importance of early detection and having access to a well-trained cancer care team to recognize early warning signs.”

As a part of their Cancer Access Program, Merck Foundation provided 243 scholarships for healthcare providers from 35 countries as per the following;

Merck Foundation is establishing Multidisciplinary Oncology Care teams in many African countries by providing scholarships of One year clinical training in most of oncology sub- specialties such as; Medical Oncology, Surgical Oncology, Pediatrics Oncology, Gynecology Oncology, Breast Oncology, Haemato-Oncology, Orthopedic Oncology, Palliative Care, Pathology Oncology, Radiation Oncology, Research in Oncology, Surgical Oncology, Genital Urinary oncology, Advanced Cytopathology Training, Interventional Radiology, Radiation Technician, Laboratory Technician, Oncology Nursing.

Moreover, Merck Foundation provides one year and two year Post Graduate Diploma and Master Degree of Cancer and Clinical Oncology, Medical Oncology and Pain Management from reputed Universities in UK like University of South Wales, University of Buckingham, Queen Mary University of London, and Cardiff University.

“We are proud to be making history in Africa by training the first Oncologists and building the first cancer care teams in several nations, ensuring that patients receive the care they deserve.” Dr. Kelej added.

Merck Foundation has over all provided more than 2500 scholarships for doctors from 52 countries in 44 critical and underserved medical specialties.

“The storybook and animation film are currently available on our social media and website and will be distributed soon in our partner countries. I believe that education through storytelling and animation is a powerful tool to build a more informed, empathetic, and healthier generation,” added Dr. Kelej.

The storybooks will have a special message from Merck Foundation CEO, Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, and African and Asian First Ladies for their respective countries. Each storybook will be available in three languages English, French and Portuguese. The copies of these books will be distributed to young readers.

Merck Foundation together with African and Asian first Ladies has previously launched several storybooks and their adapted animation films addressing various health and social issues like ‘More Than a Mother’ to break infertility stigma; ‘Jackline’s Rescue’ to focus on the importance of Girls’ Education and highlight the immoral practices of society including child marriage and the dowry system; ‘Educating Linda’ & ‘Ride into The Future’ to emphasize on the importance of empowering girls through education; ‘Not Who You Are’ to teach boys to love and respect their future wives and eliminate domestic violence and ‘Sugar Free Jude’ for Diabetes Awareness, ‘Mark’s Pressure’ for Hypertension Awareness. 

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

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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 (http://apo-opa.co/49mTz44), X (http://apo-opa.co/49shnUk), Instagram (http://apo-opa.co/4jHXlbH), YouTube (http://apo-opa.co/4qtjdKD), Threads (http://apo-opa.co/45dLoVc) and Flickr (http://apo-opa.co/4qsHmB0).

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.