The Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary is an annual educational conference aimed at advancing healthcare and social development in Africa and Asia. Bringing together over 6,000 participants from more than 70 countries, including healthcare professionals, policymakers, researchers, and media, the event focuses on addressing unmet healthcare needs through education, capacity building, and awareness.
Key programs covered during the conference include:
- More Than a Mother: Tackling infertility stigma and improving access to fertility care.
- Cancer Access: Enhancing cancer prevention and care.
- Diabetes Blue Points: Strengthening diabetes care and management.
- Capacity Advancement & COVID-19 Response: Building healthcare capacity, particularly in pandemic response.
- Health Media Training: Empowering media to spread accurate health information.
The Luminary promotes disease prevention, early detection, and equitable access to quality healthcare while fostering collaboration among healthcare providers, academia, and media. With editions held across several countries and recently online, the event contributes to the social and economic development of underserved regions, creating a healthier future for Africa and Asia.
