First Lady, Madam Sajida Mohamed, departed today for Dubai, United Arab Emirates, to participate as Guest of Honour at the 7th Edition of the Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative (MFFLI) Summit.

The high-level gathering, scheduled to take place from June 18 to 19, 2025, will convene First Ladies from across Africa and Asia to advance dialogue and collaboration on pressing social and health-related challenges.

In recent months, the First Lady has forged a robust partnership with the Merck Foundation, focusing on capacity-building in critical health specialities, most notably in infertility and embryology.

Her collaboration with the Foundation has also extended to public education campaigns aimed at raising awareness around infertility and promoting the prevention of non-communicable diseases, including diabetes and hypertension.

During the Summit, Madam Sajida Mohamed is expected to deliver keynote addresses at both the Inauguration Session and the Committee Meeting. These sessions will address pivotal social issues such as dismantling the stigma surrounding infertility, promoting girls’ education, empowering women, and reinforcing healthcare systems in regions facing a shortage of trained medical professionals.

The Summit will further serve as a platform to assess the progress of ongoing collaborative programmes initiated through the Merck Foundation since the 11th Edition of the Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary, held in Tanzania in 2024. The First Lady was in attendance at that event, where she was appointed a Merck Foundation “More Than A Mother” Ambassador, in recognition of her commitment to maternal and reproductive health advocacy.