By Lenah Bosibori
Merck Foundation has marked World Cancer Day 2026 by strengthening cancer care across Africa through training and scholarships for healthcare workers.
Working with African First Ladies and Ministries of Health, the foundation has provided about 258 cancer care scholarships to health professionals from 34 countries. The training includes clinical oncology specialties, postgraduate diplomas, and master’s degrees aimed at addressing the shortage of cancer specialists across Africa.
Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej (Ret.) explained, “At Merck Foundation, we mark World Cancer Day through our sustained, everyday efforts to transform cancer care in Africa by addressing one of its most critical gaps: late diagnosis and the shortage of trained specialist
The programme is helping train the first oncologists and cancer care teams in several countries that previously had none, including The Gambia, Sierra Leone, Burundi, Liberia, and Chad.
According to World Health Organization (WHO) data 2022, Africa records about 1.1 million new cancer cases and nearly 700,000 deaths every year, mainly due to late diagnosis and limited access to treatment.
The foundation says it remains committed to improving early detection, prevention, and treatment of cancer through training, awareness campaigns, and partnerships aimed at strengthening healthcare systems across the continent.
Merck Foundation, together with African First Ladies and Ministries of Health, continues to build cancer care capacity by providing around 260 scholarships for one-year clinical training in many oncology sub-specialties, as well as one-year and two-year postgraduate diploma and master’s degree programmes in Cancer and Clinical Oncology, Medical Oncology, and Pain Management.
Merck Foundation is making history in Africa by training the first African oncologists and first cancer care teams in countries such as The Gambia, Sierra Leone, Burundi, Liberia, Guinea Conakry, Central African Republic, Chad, Malawi, Niger, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and others.
Merck Foundation Chairman and CEO, together with African First Ladies, has also released the “Ray of Hope” children’s storybook and animation film for cancer awareness in three languages.
Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany, is marking World Cancer Day 2026 together with Africa’s First Ladies and Ministries of Health by continuing to build and advance cancer care capacity through its Cancer Access Program, aimed at increasing the limited number of oncologists in Africa. She said that together with African First Ladies.
The foundation has strengthened cancer care capacity by providing 258 oncology scholarships for healthcare providers from 34 African and Asian countries, significantly increasing the number of trained oncologists and developing multidisciplinary cancer care teams. In several of these countries, there was previously not even a single oncologist.
“We are very proud that we are making history by training the first oncologists and first multidisciplinary cancer care teams in many countries like The Gambia, Sierra Leone, Burundi, Liberia, Guinea Conakry, Central African Republic, Chad, Niger, and many more,” she said.
In total, Merck Foundation has provided more than 2,500 scholarships for healthcare providers from 52 countries in 44 critical and underserved specialties.
“Merck Foundation remains committed to transforming the landscape of patient care in general, and cancer care in particular, leading Africa toward a healthier future,” Dr Rasha Kelej added.
As part of the Cancer Access Program, Merck Foundation has provided scholarships for one-year clinical training in oncology sub-specialties including Medical Oncology, Surgical Oncology, Pediatric Oncology, Gynecology Oncology, Breast Oncology, Haemato-Oncology, Orthopedic Oncology, Palliative Care, Pathology Oncology, Radiation Oncology, Research in Oncology, Genital Urinary Oncology, Advanced Cytopathology Training, Interventional Radiology, Radiation Technician, Laboratory Technician, and Oncology Nursing.
The foundation also provides one-year and two-year postgraduate diploma and master’s degree programmes in Cancer and Clinical Oncology, Medical Oncology, and Pain Management through universities in the United Kingdom, including the University of South Wales, University of Buckingham, Queen Mary University of London, and Cardiff University.
The programme supports healthcare providers from Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo Brazzaville, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
According to WHO data (2022), Africa records about 1.1 million new cancer cases and nearly 700,000 cancer deaths each year. Cancer mortality rates in Africa are significantly higher than in many other regions due to late diagnosis, limited access to care, and gaps in health systems.
Experts say nearly two-thirds of cancer cases can be successfully treated when diagnosed early, while up to one-third can be prevented by reducing key risk factors such as exposure to radiation, certain infections, and lifestyle-related causes.
To support awareness, Merck Foundation has launched the children’s storybook and animation film “Ray of Hope”, in partnership with African First Ladies. The story focuses on childhood cancer and highlights the importance of early detection and access to well-trained cancer care teams.
Merck Foundation has also developed awareness materials including leaflets and videos on cancer prevention and early detection.
Dr Judith Mkwaila, a Merck Foundation alumni from Malawi, said the scholarship gave her both theoretical and hands-on training in complex cancer procedures.
Through the training, she established a General Surgical Clinic and became the first and only female Chief Surgeon at Mzuzu Central Hospital. She expressed gratitude to Merck Foundation for supporting her training and for continuing efforts to increase access to high-quality cancer care.