The Programme’s Manager of the Female Journalists for Women and Rural Development in Africa (FJ-WORDA), Georgina Appiah has been presented with a prestigious Merck Foundation award during the 2024 Merck Foundation Ghana Alumni Summit in Accra.
The summit was held concurrently with the 2022 and 2023 Africa media award ceremony by Merck Foundation.
The award recognized her contribution towards Ending Child Marriage and Stopping Gender Based Violence at all levels through her reportage on “Abolishing negative cultural practices to remedy Gender Based Violence” amongst others that touched on Teenage pregnancy issues.
Georgina Appiah emerged first for the Merck Foundation’ “More Than a Mother” 2022 Online category of the award scheme in West Africa.
Merck Foundation, is the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA, Germany that aims to improve the health and wellbeing of people and advance their lives through science and technology.
In an address, the First Lady of the Republic of Ghana, Her Excellency Rebecca Akufo Addo, who is a partner to Merck Foundation emphasized the substantial contribution Merck has made towards healthcare, education and the media landscape in Ghana.
She disclosed that “in a short period of nearly six years, Merck Foundation has provided 146 scholarships for local Ghanaian doctors in about 40 diverse disciplines”.
“Ghana can now boast of more specialists in critical areas of medicine because of Merck Foundation”, she stressed.
According to her, infertility had always been a taboo topic in the African context but with Merck Foundation’ “More Than a Mother” Ambassador programme, Ghanaians were being more open with infertility issues and thus seeking help and reducing the stigma.
“Today, we celebrate an important milestone. A culmination of a great partnership between my office and the Merck Foundation, since 2018. This partnership has enabled Ghana to build healthcare capacity, transform patients care, break infertility stigma and support girls education”, the First lady indicated.
“Education for girls is the singular drive for empowering our girls. It is my passion to see girls stay in school or acquire skills for life. I acknowledge and thank Merck Foundation on our partnership for girls’ education, ‘Educating Linda’ and “Because I want to be” Television mentoring programme. Together, we are ensuring girls are heard, seen and empowered for a great future”, Mrs Rebecca Akufo Addo acknowledged.
The Chief Executive Officer of Merck Foundation, Senator Dr Rasha Kelej, pledged her continuous support towards the Health sector, Education and the media among other disciplines.
She hoped many Ghanaians would express interest and apply for the many scholarship programmes by the Merck Foundation to enhance their profession.
Over twenty Journalists across the country received awards for Online, Television and Radio categories of the award schemes, which were the “More Than a Mother” project, Diabetes and Hypertension.
Others also received awards on fashion , film and best songs.
