Merck announces diabetes award 2016 winner

Merck announces the winner of ‘Merck Diabetes Award 2016’. The winner will receive the award in a big ceremony attended by Merck Health care CEO, The dean of Dubai Medical University, President of International Diabetes Federation (IDF) Africa, Vice President of Pan African Cardiology Society and the director of NCDs of Indonesia Ministry of Health.

Students across African and Asian medical universities will be asked to submit a concept paper aiming to improve the awareness about Diabetes early detection and prevention in their countries and to encourage their society, scientific community, local authorities, media and relevant stakeholders to think and act on Diabetes Every Day.  The winner from each university will be provided with one year postgraduate Diabetes Diploma.

Merck has decided to kick off its Hypertension Award for the same university, the theme being “What the Health Heart needs”. The winner of this award will be provided with one year Postgraduate Preventive Cardiovascular Medicines in South Wales University.

"Merck plays an important role in building healthcare capacity in Africa. It addresses Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs) focusing on rural areas, medical students and local partnership with Academia, Ministries of Health, policy makers and governments” Belen Garijo, CEO of Merck Healthcare and Member of The Executive Board of Merck emphasized.

Dr Dima Abd Elmannan, Clinical Dean of Dubai Medical Colleges also added, “In recent years, we have seen a rapid rise in type 2 diabetes across all age groups. The UAE is ranked 16^th worldwide, with 19.2% of the UAE population living with diabetes. These statistics indicate that the region has high risk factors for diabetes, mostly related to rising obesity rates and physical inactivity. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop accredited teaching programs and encourage people and relevant stakeholders to think and act on diabetes every day. I am sure Merck Diabetes Award will encourage our medical students to be creative in developing new strategies, policies and programs to encourage community members to think about diabetes every day.”

"We’re excited about the medical students’ application for Merck Diabetes Awards. Most of their ideas were very innovative and can make a change in Diabetes landscape in UAE. The scientific committee decided to give the award to two applicants, the first winner was Nujood Al Shirawi, a graduate of Dubai medical University and currently intern house officer under Dubai Health authority (DHA). The second winner was granted for an application submitted by two medical students in the 4^th year of Dubai Medical University, Sana Laraib Daud and Zoubia Fathima” Dr. Ahmed Reja, the President of IDF Africa and President of Ethiopia Diabetes Association and Chief of endocrinology at Black Lion Hospital said.

“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 outcome in UAE was remarkable, it encouraged the students to be more innovative and take a leadership position to fight Diabetes in their own country.”

“I am confident that the students across the African continent will equally be enthusiastic to participate with their ideas and concepts to improve the access to diabetes healthcare solution in their own countries” he added.

Prof. Eligah Ogola, Vice President of Pan African Cardiology Society said during the event “We are happy to partner with Merck to implement their Capacity Advancement Program focusing on Hypertension in 2016. This combined Diabetes and Hypertension education program will contribute towards providing guidelines and clinical practice for prevention, diagnosis and management of those diseases and their complications. The objective of this initiative is to increase the level of knowledge for medical students who will work in the near future with patients to help them prevent, understand and control their diseases across the continent.”

“Merck Diabetes and Hypertension Awards mark another step in our commitment to working with Governments, Academia and relevant stakeholders in building healthcare capacity with a focus on non-communicable diseases in various countries in Asia-Pacific, Middle East, Africa and Latin America”. Kelej concluded.