About Merck Foundation More Than a Mother Movement

"Merck Foundation More Than a Mother"
'Say No to Infertility Stigma'

"Merck Foundation More Than a Mother" is a strong movement that aims to empower infertile and childless women through access to information, education, health and change of mindset. This powerful campaign supports in defining policies and interventions to build quality and equitable Reproductive and Fertility Care Capacity, Break Infertility Stigma and Raise Awareness about Infertility Prevention and Male Infertility. In partnership with African First Ladies, Ministries of Health, Information, Education & Gender, Academia, Policymakers, International Fertility Societies, Media and Art, this initiative also provides training for Fertility specialists and Embryologists to build and advance Fertility care capacity in Africa, Asia and developing countries.

With "Merck Foundation More Than a Mother", we have initiated a cultural shift to de-stigmatize infertility at all levels. By improving awareness, training local experts in the fields of Fertility care and media, building advocacy in cooperation with African First Ladies and women leaders and by supporting childless women in starting their own small businesses. It’s all about giving every woman the respect and the help she deserves to lead a fulfilling life, with or without a child.

The Ambassadors of "Merck Foundation More Than a Mother" are:

Merck Foundation is making history in many African countries where they never had Fertility Specialists or Specialized Fertility Clinics before "Merck Foundation More Than a Mother" intervention, by training the first Fertility Specialists and Embryologists such as in Burundi, Chad, Guinea, Liberia, Malawi, Niger, Sierra Leone, The Gambia. Merck Foundation supported the training of the staff of the first public IVF centers in Ethiopia, Guinea, Myanmar, Niger, Rwanda and Burundi.

Impact

Merck Foundation launched many initiatives to sensitize local communities about infertility prevention, male infertility with the aim to break the stigma of infertility and empowering infertile and childless women as part of "Merck Foundation More Than a Mother" COMMUNITY AWARENESS CAMPAIGN, such as;

• Merck Foundation Health Media Training
• Merck Foundation Media Recognition Awards "More Than a Mother"
• Merck Foundation FASHION AWARDS "More Than a Mother"
• Merck Foundation FILM AWARDS "More Than a Mother"
• Merck Foundation SONG AWARDS "More Than a Mother"
• Songs with local artists to address the cultural perception of infertility and how to change it
• Children storybooks localized for each country in English, French and Portuguese
• Merck Foundation Animation Films