By IJEOMA UKAZU
In a bid to create a culture shift by raising awareness about a wide range of social and health challenges in our communities, Merck Foundation has launched its first TV program.
In a statement made available to The Daily Newswave, the program titled; “Our Africa by Merck Foundation” is a pan African show conceptualized, produced, directed, and hosted by Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation and currently going to be broadcasted in Kenya, Uganda, and Ghana, and will also soon be aired in other African countries.
According to Merck Foundation CEO, “This program is our effort to reach out to youth and other members of our urban and rural
communities with the aim to address and raise awareness about a wide range of pressing
social and health issues that are relevant to our continent.”
Expressing her excitement about the launch, Dr. Kelej said, “I am very happy that we have already started to receive great feedback on the promo and first episode which was about diabetes and promoting a healthy lifestyle. I also received many messages on social media that everyone is excited to watch more episodes.”
Dr. Kelej said the program is targeted to raise awareness on; Diabetes, Ending Child Marriage, Supporting Girl Education, Women Empowerment, Stopping GBV, Ending FGM and Breaking Infertility Stigma, among other social and health issues affecting the continent.
She said, “I strongly believe that fashion and art should have a purpose beyond
entertainment and looking good. They can contribute to sensitizing our communities about different social and health issues. Hence, I came up with the idea of this beneficial yet entertaining TV
program.
“I am hosting the show along with my co-host Brian Mulondo from Uganda. We will discuss and address these various issues relevant to Africa in a very unique way through our African Community of Fashion and Art with Purpose. It will be a first-of-its-kind interactive show, which will feature talented Fashion designers and Singers who sensitize communities
through those creative work across Africa.”
Merck Foundation through the “Our Africa” TV program, has established the
first ‘Fashion and Art community with Purpose’ community to break the silence
and be the voice of the voiceless about many critical and sensitive social and
health issues in Africa and beyond.
The program will feature Fashion Designers, Singers, and prominent guests from various domains with the aim to raise awareness and create a culture shift across Africa.
Below are the details of the channels on which the TV show will be aired:
– Every Saturday @ 5:30 pm (EAT) on KTN, Kenya
– Every Sunday @ 6:30 pm (EAT) on NTV Uganda
– Every Sunday @ 2 pm on (GMT) GHOne TV, Ghana