Merck Foundation Media Recognition Awards “More Than a Mother”

The Health Media Training is organized to emphasize the important role that media plays to influence our society to create a cultural shift with the aim to raise awareness about a wide range of social and health issues. 

Merck Foundation Health Media Training is a part of ‘Merck Foundation More than a Mother’ Community Awareness Program. The training is addressed by a panel of eminent personalities from the fields of Fertility, Psychiatry, Diabetes, and media. It is attended by journalists from Print, TV, Radio, and Online media platforms. The esteemed panel also addresses queries from the attendees.

Since 2017, Merck Foundation has provided their Health Media Training for more than 3700 media representatives from 35 countries in Africa.

The training's objectives include:

• To emphasize on the important role that media plays to influence our society to create a cultural shift with the aim to Break Infertility Stigma, Support Girl Education,
• Women Empowerment, End Child Marriage, End FGM, and/ or Stop GBV at all levels.
• To underscore the importance of Empowering Girls and Women in Education.
• To understand the Influence of Infertility Stigma and other social issues like GBV, Child Marriage, FGM etc. on women and couples - Social and Psychological Impact.
• To promote a Healthy Lifestyle and Raise Awareness about Prevention and Early Detection of Diabetes and Hypertension- how to report about it to the community.

Merck Foundation in partnership with the African First Ladies announced the call for applications for the Merck Foundation Africa Media Recognition Awards "More Than a Mother" 2025.

 

Call for Applications 
Merck Foundation Africa Media Recognition Awards "More Than a Mother" 2026

Merck Foundation Africa Media Recognition Awards "More Than a Mother" 2026 have been announced in partnership with African First Ladies. Media representatives and media students 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.

How to Apply

Winners will be notified personally via email, followed by a press release for public announcement and on the Merck Foundation and partners website and social media channels.

*Personal Data. In connection with this application, Merck Foundation will collect your personal data (“Personal Data”) such as your name, contact information, name of your employer, your work experience (where applicable), personal photo and the additional information required during the application. By completing and submitting this application, you provide consent to Merck Foundation to process such Personal Data for the following purposes: (i) Public announcement through press releases and on Merck Foundation and partners website and social media channels. (ii) Future Merck Foundation Activities and programs,  (iii) publication of data about transfers of values (when and where applicable). Merck Foundation may share your Personal Data provided in this application (i) with its service providers and partners that process Personal Data on its behalf and (ii) with other affiliated organizations of Merck Foundation for the purpose of processing this application and awards.

Merck Foundation Africa Media Recognition Awards "More Than a Mother" Committee:

The committee is formed to select the winners in an unbiased manner, based on evaluating the quality of the information included to sensitize the communities about breaking Infertility Stigma, Support Girls’ Education, End Child Marriage, End FGM, Stopping GBV and Women Empowerment at all levels in a way that regular community member can comprehend in line with the objectives of the Merck Foundation More Than a Mother campaign to raise awareness within the communities.
 

Chaired by:
Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej (Ret.)
CEO of Merck Foundation and
President of “More Than a Mother” Campaign

Members:
Mr. Leonard Saika
Senior Program Director, Merck Foundation

Ms. Mehak Handa
Senior Manager, Communication and Community Awareness Programs, Merck Foundation 

Ms. Kanaga Janani Chandrasekaran
Manager, Communication and Community Awareness Programs, Merck Foundation