First Lady Sajidha Mohamed has stressed that investing in people remains the most effective investment any society can make, as she delivered a statement at the 8th Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative (MFFLI) Summit today, held as part of the 13th Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary.
Joining fellow First Ladies from Africa and Asia as Guests of Honour in the online session, she called for access to healthcare regardless of geography, emphasising that a child born on a remote island deserves the same opportunity for a healthy future as a child born in a capital city.
The First Lady highlighted the tangible outcomes of the Maldives' partnership with the Merck Foundation, including 13 scholarships in critical specialties such as Fertility and Embryology, Endocrinology, Critical Care, and Paediatrics; eight creative awards across Media, Music, Film, and Fashion Design; and 3,000 school supply sets distributed under the Educating Linda Programme.
She further stressed that sustainable development is not achieved through infrastructure alone, calling for partnerships built on trust and solidarity to ensure that every individual has the opportunity to live with dignity, hope and access to quality healthcare.
As an Ambassador of the Foundation's 'More Than a Mother' programme, the First Lady also spoke on the importance of combating infertility stigma. Noting that such stigma can often be as painful as the illness itself, she called for societies where empathy replaces judgment and every individual is treated with dignity and respect.
The First Lady also congratulated the Merck Foundation on its 9th Anniversary and 14 years of transformative development programmes across Africa, Asia and underserved communities.
Closing her remarks, she called on all partners to continue striving for a world where health, opportunity and dignity are not privileges enjoyed by a few, but rights accessible to all.
A flagship annual conference, the Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary brings together healthcare professionals, policymakers, and academics to address key development and healthcare priorities across Africa and Asia.