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#InsideTheBox with Dr Andy Gray | How can we tell if health policies or guidelines are truly evidence-based? #InsideTheBox is a column by Dr Andy Gray, a pharmaceutical sciences expert at the University of KwaZulu-Natal and Co-Director of the WHO Collaborating Centre on Pharmaceutical Policy and Evidence Based Practice. (Photo: Supplied) Comment & Analysis 18th …
The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) will host a high-level dialogue focussing on the challenges of advancing democratic governance in the Global South. Held in partnership with the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA), the event will take place on 19 and 20 June 2025 in Pretoria under the theme Re-imagining …
The South African men’s cricket team touched down at OR Tambo International Airport to a great reception after claiming the ICC World Test Championship title. Fans, family, and officials gathered to celebrate the Proteas’ historic triumph and to glimpse the coveted Mace in South African hands. Temba Bavuma interacts with supporters during the South Africa …
Court finds Mara Glennie may have misappropriated R2-million
The big plunge in solar power system prices in South Africa over the past few years could be coming to an end. Global prices of solar panels, inverters, and batteries dropped sharply in 2023 and 2024, largely due to substantial overproduction in China. In South Africa, the declines were exacerbated by a market flooded with …
After weeks of mounting pressure, Higher Education Minister Nobuhle Nkabane has released the list of panellists who assisted her with the appointments of 21 Seta board chairpersons — several of whom are linked to ANC politicians. Higher Education Minister Nobuhle Nkabane initially refused to disclose the names of the independent panel responsible for appointing the …
On Tuesday, the organisers said they were “deeply saddened and troubled by the incident that occurred this weekend. “An internal investigation is under way to determine what transpired and we are committed to ensuring those responsible are held accountable. We will provide regular updates on the progress of our internal investigation and any related legal …
Temba Bavuma © Getty Images South Africa captain Temba Bavuma said the massive, joyous welcome his team received when returning home on Wednesday from their World Test Championship final triumph was a sign of how special the achievement was. Bavuma and his teammates were greeted by several thousand supporters when they landed in Johannesburg following …
While South African motorists with keyless entry vehicles can take several measures to stop tech-savvy thieves from stealing their cars, the best mitigations ultimately nullify the benefit of the feature. Private security companies, car tracking firms, and insurance companies have warned about a surge in keyless car thefts in South Africa through so-called “replay attacks” …
At a time when avian influenza and foot-and-mouth disease have been in the headlines, it is reasonable for people to closely watch consumer food price inflation to gauge the pass-through of these issues. On June 18, we had inflation data for May 2025. South Africa’s consumer food price inflation has continued to accelerate; however, this …
Patrick Ntsokolo hopes to testify before the Human Rights Commission probe into the Stilfontein tragedy
South Africa stands at a pivotal moment in its technological evolution, poised to redefine itself as Africa’s leading digital powerhouse. Over the past two years, political leaders and media narratives have painted a picture of rapid digital transformation, underscoring the government’s ambition to position South Africa at the forefront of innovation. President Cyril Ramaphosa reinforced …
South Africa will resume trade talks with the Trump administration on the sidelines of the US-Africa Business Summit next week, with less than a month to go before Washington’s reciprocal tariffs are set to come into effect. The negotiating teams will aim to thrash out the details of South Africa’s proposed framework agreement, which includes …
Luke Fraser ·18 Jun 2025 The Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit has received approval to amend its design, opening the possibility of Formula One returning to the country. Constructed in 1961, the original Kyalami Circuit was the home of the South African Grand Prix, hosting 21 F1 Grand Prix races. On top of F1, the circuit …
Friday, 6 June 2025 The Economic Freedom Fighters notes with deep concern the recent public remarks by the National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP), Advocate Shamila Batohi, in which she effectively admits that the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) is infiltrated, compromised, and dysfunctional, yet refuses to accept that there is a leadership crisis or that […]
Parliament, Wednesday, 18 June 2025 – The National Council of Provinces Oral Question and Answer session with President Cyril Ramaphosa, initially scheduled for Thursday, 19 June 2025, has been postponed. The session will now take place on Wednesday, 25 June 2025. Meanwhile, the National Assembly (NA) will hold a virtual members’ training and capacity-building programme …
Health workers have long relied on body mass index (BMI) to measure whether people are within a healthy weight range, but leading researchers have made the case for a new way to understand and diagnose obesity, writes Jesse Copelyn for Spotlight. To tackle the global rise in obesity, our understanding of the condition needs to …
Staff Writer ·18 Jun 2025 The Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) has declared a national disaster in South Africa following severe weather in the country. The head of the National Disaster Management Centre, Elias Sithole, said the magnitude and severity of severe weather warranted a national response. South Africa has experienced weeks …
Merck Foundation (www.Merck-Foundation.com), the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany, conducted the 7th Edition of Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative - MFFLI Summit 2025 on 19th and 20th June in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It was inaugurated by Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp, Chairman of Merck Foundation Board of Trustees, and Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation and President of Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative along with The First Ladies of 14 African and Asian countries, who joined as the Guests of Honor and Keynote Speakers.
Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation and President of “Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative” emphasized, “It is my great honor to welcome our esteemed Guests of Honor and Keynote Speakers, The First Ladies of Africa and Asia, and Ambassadors of our ‘More Than a Mother' campaign to the 7th Edition of the Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative – MFFLI Summit.
Through this important platform, we have collectively exchanged valuable experiences and engaged in meaningful discussions on the impact of our programs, which are aimed at transforming patient care and raising awareness of a wide range of critical social and health issues.”
Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg Haverkamp, Chairman of Merck Foundation Board of Trustees added, “At Merck Foundation, our goal is improving overall health and well-being by building healthcare capacity and by providing access to quality & equitable healthcare solutions in the Africa, Asia and beyond. I would like to sincerely thank our Ambassadors and partners. Together, with your unwavering support and collaboration, we will continue to work towards our vision of a world where everyone can lead a healthy and happy life.”
The First Ladies of 14 countries, who are also the Ambassadors of “Merck Foundation More Than a Mother”, joined as Guests of Honor and Keynote Speakers. They are:
Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej stated, “I am proud to share that Merck Foundation has provided more than 2280 scholarships for young doctors from 52 countries in 44 critical and underserved specialties. Many of our Merck Foundation Alumni are becoming the first specialists in their countries. Together with our Ambassadors and Partners, we are making history and transforming the patient care landscape across Africa and beyond. Many of them are becoming the first specialists in their countries.”
“During our Conference, we also marked together the World Infertility Awareness Month, observed in June, through our signature campaign “Merck Foundation More Than a Mother”, which aims to empower infertile and childless women by providing access to information, education, and change of mindset. I am happy to share that out of the total 2280 scholarships, more than 700 scholarships have been provided for training in Fertility, Embryology, Sexual and Reproductive Medicine, Clinical Psychiatry, Women's Health, Urology, Laparoscopic Surgical Skills, and Family Medicine, to improve access to fertility care and women's health”, she further added.
During the 7th Edition of Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative -MFFLI Summit, two important occasions were marked; the 8th Anniversary of Merck Foundation and 13 years of Merck Foundation's development programs that started in 2012.
On the first day, the Plenary Session of the Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative -MFFLI Summit took place, featuring a high-level panel discussion with the participating First Ladies of Africa and Asia. Moreover, a high-level ministerial panel discussion was held with African Ministers and top healthcare experts from across the globe.
The Day 2 of the conference will have three key parallel session will be held- Two medical and scientific sessions covering Oncology and Fertility Topics, and a community awareness session, Merck Foundation Health Media Training. This session will emphasize the critical role of the media in influencing communities and driving cultural change, with regards to a wide range of social and health issues like Breaking Infertility Stigma, Supporting Girls' Education, Stopping GBV, Ending Child Marriage & FGM, Empowering Women, Diabetes and Hypertension Awareness.
The conference is being conducted in a hybrid format, enabling over 6,000 audiences from more than 70 countries to benefit, meet and discuss strategies and solutions for the health and social challenges in their countries safely and effectively.
Countries participating in the 7th Edition of Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative:
Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Central Africa Republic, Cambodia, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, France, Gabon, Germany, Ghana, Guinea – Bissau, Guinea – Conakry, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tanzania, Thailand, The Gambia, Togo, Tunisia, U.A.E, UK, Uganda, US, Vietnam, Zambia, Zimbabwe and more.
The 7th Edition of Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative is streamed live on the social media handles of Merck Foundation and Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation:
@ Merck Foundation: Facebook (https://apo-opa.co/4edCwCi), X (https://apo-opa.co/4n8k2qI), Instagram (https://apo-opa.co/3G4ZQ8w), and YouTube (https://apo-opa.co/4kQbVOf).
@ Rasha Kelej: Facebook (https://apo-opa.co/3ZBhIi7), X (https://apo-opa.co/3FT5D13), Instagram (https://apo-opa.co/3HNpOOr), and YouTube (https://apo-opa.co/3ZF3Xiq).
Link to the Facebook live stream of Inaugural Session of Merck Foundation First Ladies High Level Panel: https://apo-opa.co/3G1Afxo
Merck Foundation is transforming the Patient care landscape and making history together with their partners in Africa, Asia, and beyond, through:
• 2280+ Scholarships provided by Merck Foundation for doctors from 52 Countries in more than 44 critical and underserved medical specialties.
Merck Foundation is also creating a culture shift and breaking the silence about a wide range of social and health issues in Africa and underserved communities through:
• 3700+ Media Persons from more than 35 countries trained to better raise awareness about different social and health issues
• 8 Different Awards launched annually for best media coverage, fashion designers, films, and songs
• Around 30 songs to address health and social issues, by local singers across Africa
• 8 Children's Storybooks in three languages - English, French, and Portuguese
• 7 Awareness Animation films in five languages - English, French, Portuguese, Spanish and Swahili to raise awareness about prevention and early detection of Diabetes & Hypertension and supporting girl education.
• Pan African TV Program "Our Africa by Merck Foundation” addressing Social and Health Issues in Africa through “Fashion and ART with Purpose” Community
• 950+ Scholarships provided to high performing but under-privileged African schoolgirls to empower them to complete their studies
• 15 Social Media Channels with more than 8 Million Followers.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Merck Foundation.
Contact:
Mehak Handa
Community Awareness Program Manager
+91 9310087613
+91 9319606669
mehak.handa@external.merckgroup.com
Join the conversation on our social media platforms below and let your voice be heard!
Facebook: https://apo-opa.co/4edCwCi
X: https://apo-opa.co/4n8k2qI
YouTube: https://apo-opa.co/4kQbVOf
Instagram: https://apo-opa.co/3G4ZQ8w
Threads: https://apo-opa.co/460CnzW
Flickr: https://apo-opa.co/460Conu
Website: www.Merck-Foundation.com
Download Merck Foundation App: https://apo-opa.co/460ClIk
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/4edCwCi), X (https://apo-opa.co/4n8k2qI), Instagram (https://apo-opa.co/3G4ZQ8w), YouTube (https://apo-opa.co/4kQbVOf), Threads (https://apo-opa.co/460CnzW) and Flickr (https://apo-opa.co/460Conu).
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.
Commuter activists to present and challenge evidence in the pending review by former PRASA board members
At a time when AI and digital transformation are reshaping industries across South Africa, Dell is ideally positioned to support businesses on their journey to innovation and impact. Habib Mahakian has been appointed as Vice President and Managing Director for Dell Technologies South Africa, expanding on his current role as VP for Emerging Markets. ”I’m …
Monday, 9 June 2025 The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) notes the recent call by Minister Gayton McKenzie and the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC) for public assistance in identifying the remains of South Africans who died in exile during the anti-apartheid struggle. These include liberation fighters, cultural icons, visual artists and indigenous peoples […]
Habib Mahakian Dell Technologies South Africa has a new MD following the recent resignation of Doug Woolley, who has taken a senior role at JSE-listed Altron Group. Habib Mahakian has been named MD and vice president of Dell South Africa with immediate effect, the company said on Wednesday. This expands his current role as vice …
“To be clear, I am NOT taking drugs!” the richest man in the world announced on his social media platform X at the end of May. “The New York Times was lying their ass off.” Elon Musk — originally from South Africa and until recently the head of the Trump administration’s so-called department of government …