Merck, a leading science and technology company based in Germany, has announced the winners of the Merck Diabetes Award. The Award, which is part of the Merck Capacity Advancement Programme, was launched in April 2016 in partnership with African and Asian universities with the aim of building a platform of diabetes experts across the globe.
The scientific committee received more than 500 concept submission applications from universities in Africa and Asia and 10 winners were selected for the award. The winner from each university has been granted a one year postgraduate diabetes diploma in South Wales University, UK.
'Merck Diabetes Award marks another step in our long term commitment to support diabetes care strategies in developing countries through working with local governments, academia and relevant stakeholders in building healthcare capacity with a focus on diabetes, hypertension and other non-communicable diseases in various countries in Asia-Pacific, Middle East, Africa and Latin America,' said Rasha Kelej, Chief Social Officer, Merck Healthcare.
Merck invited all medical students to apply for the Merck Diabetes Award 2016 with the theme 'Every Day is a Diabetes Day'. Students across African and Asian medical universities were asked to submit a concept paper on how to improve diabetes early detection and prevention in their countries and how to encourage their society, scientific community, local authorities, media and relevant stakeholders to think and act on diabetes every day.
'Access to diabetic care in Africa will slowly grow with the initiation of this award, because it will create “diabetes scholars” with more insight and knowledge on the best care needed for patients and how to facilitate it,' said Dominic Oduro-Donkor, from Cape Coast Teaching Hospital, Ghana and a Merck Diabetes Award winner.
Ahmed Reja, the President of International Diabetes Federation, Africa and President of Ethiopia Diabetes Association emphasised: 'We are very happy to partner with Merck to drive their strategy to build diabetes capacity and roll out the Merck Diabetes Award across the continent. The awards encourage the students to be more innovative and take a leadership position to fight diabetes in their own country.'
