By Dipo Olowookere
Leading science and technology company, Merck, on Friday marked the ‘World Cancer Day’ by raising awareness on cancer early detection and prevention through their social media campaign in collaboration with academia and cancer patient societies in Africa.
Merck also supports women cancer survivors and builds cancer care capacity in Africa, contributing to what ‘We Can’ do together to reduce the global burden of cancer.
Merck joined hands with partners to harness the power of social media to raise awareness on cancer early detection and prevention, support women cancer survivors and build cancer care capacity in Africa. These efforts are contributing to what ‘We Can’ do together to reduce the global burden of cancer in developing countries.
Merck Cancer Access Program starts in Africa with three initiatives social media campaign to raise awareness on cancer; ‘Merck Africa Oncology Fellowship Program’ in Kenya and India to increase the limited number of oncologists in the continent and the ‘Merck More than a Patient’ to empower women cancer survivors.
The company has urged fans to join the conversation on its social media to raise awareness about cancer early detection and prevention via the #MerckCancerTips): Facebook: Merck Cancer Control Program; Twitter: Merck_MCCP; YouTube: Merck Cancer Control Program.
2Through ‘Merck More than a Patient’, a new initiative of Merck Cancer Access Program in Africa in partnership with “Women For Cancer” we support women cancer survivors to establish their own small business so that they can lead an independent and productive life,’ the company said.
“I am very happy that ‘Merck More than a Patient’ has this positive impact on these women’s lives. Through our collaboration with cancer patients associations and cancer institutions across Africa, we aim to help uplift women cancer survivors to reclaim their lives and become active contributors to the economy – and by doing so, they can now give back to the society through their new businesses. They will become more than cancer patients. In addition to our efforts we will raise awareness about early detection and prevention especially addressing cancer in women,” says Rasha Kelej, Chief Social Officer, Merck Healthcare.
Benda Kithaka and Co-Founder and Board Chair of Women For Cancer Early Detection & Treatment emphasizes: “We are grateful to Merck for the continued support towards Women 4 Cancer survivors and our recent collaboration through the ‘Merck More than a Patient’ initiative. The cancer patients are also appreciative that Merck is assisting them to make strides in gaining financial independence beyond their cancer survivorship.”