I feel a familiar pain in my chest as I’m thinking this and I’m jolted back to the current happenings . Unconsciously, I let my mind wander back home where I left my infant daughter sleeping. Thinking about her triggers a let-down and I have to cross my arms, pressing down the chest to stop the milk from flowing; I do not want to risk messing up my blouse. 

I’m at the Intercontinental Hotel for the Merck More than a Mother workshop on how we can all create a culture shift. As a mom blogger, I really needed to interact with forever-waiting-to-be mothers, hear their stories, understand them and see what little you and I can do to make their lives a little more bearable.

H.E. Madam Brigitte Touadera – First Lady Central African Republic

But instead of getting empathy and understanding, infertile women in Africa have to deal with insensitive questions, and lack of support from those closest to them. Some of the women who told their stories during the workshop talked of rejection by family members, and their husbands going out to look for other women.

Dr. Evans Kidero – Nairobi Governor

Merck not only helps infertile women stand on their own two feet, but they also believe that we have to change our thinking if the stigma associated with infertility is to be dealt with. To reduce the violence against the women and change everyone’s mindset, there is need to raise awareness of infertility prevention and management. There is also need to go beyond just helping those who can’t have kids. Merck more than a mother program objectives are;

1. Creating a culture shift to de-stigmatize infertility and to respect and appreciate infertile women in Africa
2. raising Awareness about Infertility Prevention & Management and Male Infertility by integrating it into Healthcare Infrastructure that already exist, such as HIV, Maternal Health and Mother  and Child Programs
3. Education and Training for African Embryologists since the lack of trained and skilled staff is a big challenge
4. Supporting Policy Makers to define ART Policies to Improve Access to Regulated Fertility Care
5. Building Advocacy and Open Dialogue and work closely with Policy Makers, Governments, Parliaments, Healthcare Providers, Fertility Experts and Media to define interventions to reduce the social suffering and Improve Access to Regulated, Effective and Safe Fertility Care in Africa
6. Empowering Infertile women Socially and Economically through Access to Awareness, Health Change of mind-set and Empower Women who cannot be treated anymore through starting a small business for them to build their independence and happier lives through “Empowering Berna” project.