Merck Foundation and Zimbabwe’s First Lady Mark Seven Years of Health Partnership

Merck Foundation and Zimbabwe’s First Lady mark seven years of partnership focused on health worker training (image source)

Harare — The Merck Foundation and Zimbabwe’s First Lady this week marked seven years of a strategic partnership focused on strengthening the country’s health workforce, supporting infertile women and advancing girls’ education. What began as a targeted capacity-building initiative has evolved into a multi-faceted programme with nationwide impact.

Since its inception, the collaboration has prioritised training healthcare providers across key specialties, notably reproductive medicine, oncology and diabetes care. Through scholarships, hands-on training and institutional support, doctors, nurses and allied health professionals have acquired practical skills applicable across Zimbabwe’s public and private health facilities. The programme has also supported specialist modules and short courses aimed at closing critical service-delivery gaps.

Support for infertile women has been a central pillar of the partnership. Initiatives have included awareness campaigns, subsidised diagnostic services and facilitated access to assisted reproductive technologies where appropriate. By pairing clinical care with community outreach, organisers say the programme has helped reduce stigma and encouraged earlier engagement with health services.

Girls’ education remains another core focus. The partnership has funded scholarships, mentorship initiatives and vocational training to keep girls in school and equip them with marketable skills. These efforts address barriers such as early pregnancy, poverty and limited access to sanitary products, linking health, education and social support to improve long-term outcomes for young women.

Officials cited measurable results over the seven-year period: thousands of healthcare workers trained, dozens of community awareness campaigns delivered and hundreds of girls supported through scholarships and mentorship. The Merck Foundation has also enabled study visits and exchanges exposing Zimbabwean practitioners to international best practice, while local institutions have received technical assistance to strengthen clinical governance and patient safety.

Sustainability and local ownership were emphasised by both partners. The First Lady’s office has worked with the Ministry of Health and Child Care to integrate training into national continuing professional development frameworks, while the Merck Foundation has committed to phased handovers that build institutional capacity and ensure continuity beyond individual projects.

Civil-society organisations and beneficiaries praised the partnership’s holistic approach, noting that combining clinical services with education and social support addresses root causes of poor reproductive health outcomes. Health analysts said the focus on specialist training — particularly in reproductive medicine and non-communicable diseases — aligns with national health priorities.

Looking ahead, partners plan to scale up successful pilots, deepen collaboration with provincial health authorities and expand scholarship opportunities, while stressing the need for continued donor coordination and government commitment. As the anniversary was marked, both parties reaffirmed their shared commitment to improving health outcomes, empowering women and investing in the next generation.