tawandamusarurwa
Online Reporter
Child marriages remain a thorn in the flesh of many communities.
Girls who are forced into marriages often drop out of school and miss out on secondary education.
Some have had complications like obstetric fistula with others dying during childbirth as their bodies would not have developed enough.
In the 13th episode of “Our Africa by Merck Foundation”, the important issue of “Stopping Child Marriage” is tackled.
Past episodes of the show have tackled addressed the importance of early detection and prevention of diabetes, breaking infertility stigma, supporting girl
education, promoting a healthy lifestyle, ending female genital mutilation (FGM), coronavirus health awareness, sustainability and up-cycled fashion, women empowerment and gender-based violence (GBV).
‘Our Africa by Merck Foundation’ is a pan African TV programme that is conceptualised, produced, directed, and co-hosted by Senator, Dr Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation.
The programme features African fashion designers, singers, and prominent experts from various domains with the aim to raise awareness and create a culture shift across Africa.
The show is co-hosted by Brian Mulondo from Uganda.
Dr Kelej said: “I am very happy to receive such great feedback and response from the viewers of ‘Our Africa by Merck Foundation’ TV program and our social media followers.
“The 13th episode focuses on the issue of ‘Stopping Child Marriage’. Girls, not Brides! While Child marriage is a global issue, Africa has one of the highest rate of child marriages in the world.
Specifically, sub-Saharan Africa has the highest rates where every 4 in 10 girls are married before the age of 18”.
She added that they have addressed the important issue through Merck Foundation’s ‘Fashion and Art with Purpose’ community.
“I have always emphasised that fashion and art should have a purpose beyond entertainment and looking good and can contribute greatly towards raising awareness and sensitising communities about social and health issues.
“Our Africa by Merck Foundation’ TV programme is our attempt to utilise these important mediums to break the silence and create a culture shift by addressing pressing social and health issues in Africa,” she said.
The 13th episode features Ms Nancy, a TV presenter and style coach from Ghana and very talented designers Gaone Mangogola from Botswana, and Stephany – Lee Schmidt from Namibia, who is also a Merck Foundation Fashion award winner.
The young designers showcased their designs that displayed strong messages to Stop Child Marriage.
The episode also featured the Merck Foundation song ‘Girls can’ by popular singers – Cwesi Oteng, a popular singer from Ghana and Irene Logan from Liberia. The song supports Girl education and empowers them to ‘do anything’ and ‘be anything’ by making informed choices and saying ‘no’ to gender discrimination and violence.
Dr Kelej emphasised: “It is important to understand that providing education to girls can play a significant role in stopping child marriage.
“Girls who complete primary and secondary education tend to marry later. Therefore, through our ‘Educating Linda’ program, we have been contributing to the future of 100’s of girls in partnership with the African First Ladies, by providing them scholarships and grants to cover school fees, uniforms, and other essentials including notebooks, pens, and mathematical instruments, etc, from many African countries such as Burundi, Central African Republic, DRC, The Gambia, Guinea Conakry, Liberia Mozambique, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe and more”.
Merck Foundation has also released an inspiring children’s storybook ‘Jackline’s Rescue’ to focus on the importance of Girls’ Education and ill effects of child marriage.
Online Reporter