A Call for Action
from African Ministers and Merck more than a mother to mark CSW60; New Policies
have to be developed to support improving access to fertility treatment and
empowering infertile women in Africa through access to information and health
and change of negative mind-set.
Merck KGaA, Darmstadt Germany, in partnership with
African Fertility Society, African Alliances for Women Empowerment (AFRAWE),
and International Federation of Business and Professional Women (BPW), marked
Commission Status of Women - CSW60 with the theme fighting violence against
women and girls.
Through the “Merck More than A Mother” initiative,
women leaders, women parliamentarians, Africa Fertility Society, Ministers of
Gender, Healthcare Providers and media were invited to define interventions to
raise awareness about infertility prevention and management. They sought to build fertility care capacity,
support government to improve access to regulated, safe and effective fertility
care, decrease the social suffering and stigmatization of infertile women and
fertility at large in order to achieve any systemic shift in the current
culture of gender discrimination in the context of fertility care in African
societies.
During the event, they announced the start of a new
initiative as part of “Merck More than a
Mother” called “Empowering Berna”. Berna Amullen is a Ugandan woman who suffered
infertility as a result of an untreated Sexually Transmitted Disease - STD.
Berna was diagnosed too late to be given proper treatment and she lost the hope
of being a mother and leading a happy
life.
In her video, Berna shared her devastating story of
mistreatment, discrimination and violence by her husband, family and community
due to her infertility condition. She speaks about her attempt to commit
suicide and how she was saved at the last moment. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0abDbTGZqZA
“There are many cases like Berna’s out there and we
cannot just leave them to suffer alone without any hope of a happy and
independent life. We all have to believe that women are more than mothers.”
Rasha Kelej, Chief Social Officer of Merck Healthcare and Chair of Women Health
of AEAWE emphasized, “Therefore ‘Empowering
Berna’ initiative will aim to empower underprivileged infertile women who
can no longer be treated. The initiative will help them to establish their own
small business and build their own independent lives.”
Rasha kelej chief social officer HE Minister of Gender of malawi President pf AFRAWE vp of africa fertility society |
“It is very
important to empower infertile women by providing treatment so they can bear
children as part of their human rights. In case they can no longer be treated,
we are in partnership with Merck to empower and train them to establish their
own small business so that they can be independent and re-build their own
lives, a woman is more than a mother, Empowering
Berna initiative will prove this every day,” Mentioned Dr. Amani Asfour,
President of AFRAW.
“We will partner with “Merck More than a Mother” campaign to empower
infertile women socially and economically through changing of mindsets and
negative cultural aspects, elimination of violence against women and improving
access to healthcare information and education,” H.E. Julia Duncan-Cassell, Liberia Minister of Gender
said during the event.
During the event, Malawi Minister of Gender, Children,
Disability and Social Welfare, H.E. Hon. Patricia Anne Kaliati highlighted, “We
should partner with other ministers in health, education and economy to change
our policies and regulation to empower our women by improving their access to
information, knowledge and through capacity building to start their own
business. Thus, they will be independent and able to contribute to our local
and global economy. This is the only way they can comprehend their rights,
roles and responsibilities and be more than mothers.”
H.E. Hon. Sarah Opendi, Uganda Minister of State of
Health said, “We are happy to partner with reputable and innovative companies
such as Merck. We believe that “Merck More than a Mother” campaign addresses a
very sensitive topic for the first time in Africa; we all know it is there but
no one wants to talk about it. This initiative will help to empower infertile
women by improving access to information and change in the culture and
mindset.”
“Most Sub-Saharan African countries do not have
trained embryologists hence, providing training to our embryologists will
contribute significantly to improve the quality and accessibility of fertility
care for couples in Uganda and Africa so that they can start their families,”
she added.
“Through this historic campaign, Ministries of Health
and Gender together with African Women Leaders will be able to contribute to
raising awareness about discrimination, stigma and ostracism women undergo for
their inability to have a child.” Dr. Yasimin Darwish, President of BPW
International remarked, “We encourage men to acknowledge and discuss openly
their fertility problems and strive for a team approach to family building with
their partners in order to progress toward shared fertility responsibility
among couples. BPW international commits to build advocacy for the More than a
Mother campaign across the globe.”
“According to
the World Health Organization (WHO), lower levels of development are thought to
be associated with higher levels of non-genetic and preventable causes of
infertility. For instance, poor nutrition, untreated sexually transmitted
infections (STIs), unsafe abortion, consequences of infections caused by the
practice of female genital mutilation (FGM) or child marriage, exposure to
smoking, leaded petrol and other environmental pollutants can lead to
infertility. Hence prevention awareness is very important,” Dr. James Olobo
Lalobo, Vice President of Africa Fertility Society, explained.
All partners agreed on an affirmative action –
Creating awareness about male infertility, infertility prevention and
management integration in the existing healthcare infrastructure such as HIV
prevention programs, mother and child, family planning and maternity health
programs. “Moreover, pushing bills that regulate fertility care such as the
Assisted Reproductive Technique – (ART) bill that has been approved by the
National Assembly of Kenya,” states Hon. Joyce Lay, Member of Parliament and -Merck
More than a Mother- Ambassador of Kenya.
Join the conversation and let your voice be heard:
In order to reduce
the stigma of infertility, create awareness and define interventions to improve
access to better fertility care in Africa.
Twitter handle: @MerckAndMothers
Facebook page: Merck More Than A Mother
YouTube Channel: Merck More Than A Mother
Facebook page: Merck More Than A Mother
YouTube Channel: Merck More Than A Mother
For more information on the “Merck More than a Mother”
Campaign, please visit www.merckmorethanamother.com
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