Atlanta, GA (BlackNews.com) – Madame Djéné Condé, the First Lady of the Republic of Guinea, Conakry in Africa, took a series of tours in Atlanta, Georgia, during a recent visit to the United States. Madame Condé was on an exploratory mission for international business development between the Republic of Guinea, Conakry and Georgia, which included a private meeting with Georgia’s First Lady, Sandra Deal.

The historic trip which took place from August 11-13, marked a new chapter for business relations between Georgia and the Republic of Guinea, Conakry. The Republic of Guinea, Conakry is a small West African country located on the coast that is rich in natural resources including the largest reserve of bauxite in the world. Bauxite is an aluminum ore and is the world’s main source of aluminum. The country is also rich in other vast resources ranging from oil, gas, iron ore, gold, diamonds, etc.

Coordinated by S. Benjamin Enterprises, LLC., a private wealth management consulting firm specializing in international business development that is assisting the Republic of Guinea, Conakry with the development of its agriculture, the three-day visit opened doors of opportunity for business development between the two countries.

“Although a small country, The Republic of Guinea, Conakry has the capability to effect global consumption of food and global trade,” says Mason Brown, general partner of S. Benjamin Enterprises, LLC. “We have been working closely with the University of Georgia which has expertise in agricultural soil testing in The Republic of Guinea, Conakry,” he shared. “This will certainly help increase Georgia’s business growth by creating jobs associated with institutions of agricultural expertise from Georgia, including but not limited to direct Guinea to Georgia businesses on multiple levels,” he said.

During the visit, Madame Condé met with Governor Nathan Deal’s wife, Sandra in a private meeting, who issued her a decree of honorary citizenship of Georgia. The visit to Atlanta also included tours of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and MedShare International. At the CDC, Madame Condé toured its Emergency Operations Center and met with Dr. Tom Frieden, director of the CDC, and other leaders on CDC’s Ebola efforts. She also taped a public safety announcement in the CDC studios to be used for Ebola prevention efforts in the Republic of Guinea, Conakry. During her tour of MedShare International, Madame Condé discussed opportunities for medical missions to the Republic of Guinea, Conakry with MedShare representatives.

S. Benjamin Enterprises, LLC., is helping to develop the Republic of Guinea, Conakry’s agriculture, and is concentrating on ways of providing the area with fresh water, fresh food and the availability of continuous electricity, all of which are critical to the growth and sustenance of every society and community. The company’s representatives are preparing for a return trip by the First Lady within a few weeks, where she hopes to visit with Congressmen from Georgia, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, as well as former President Jimmy Carter.
“The implementation of the agricultural project in the Republic of Guinea, Conakry is expected within 30 to 90 days, where there has been no outbreak of Ebola, and by all accounts it is quite safe to travel there,” says Brown. “As a result, the Republic of Guinea, Conakry’s government is preparing to direct business between Georgia and The Republic of Guinea, Conakry,” he said.

S. Benjamin Enterprises, LLC., is a private wealth management consulting firm which provides wealth management consulting services to professional athletes, businesses, real estate owners, local governments, individual and charitable organizations. Their expertise includes but is not limited to real estate development, housing, oil and gas production, electric utilities development and infrastructure, legal consulting, transportation and mining. For more information about S. Benjamin Enterprises, LLC., go to www.sbe-llc.us.

• Dr Rasha Kelej is the First Female, African and Youngest ever Chief Executive Officer for Merck Foundation.
• The First Ladies of Central African Republic, Gambia, Chad , Niger and Republic of Guinea announced to be ambassadors for Merck more than a Mother campaign in their countries.
• More than 450 African healthcare providers, policy makers and researchers from Africa and Asia benefited from the luminary sessions.

Merck KGaA (www.Merck.com) Germany launches their Merck Foundation (www.Merck-Foundation.com), a non-profit company established in June 2017 at their Fourth edition of their annual “Merck Africa Asia Luminary” held in Cairo, Egypt.

During the conference The First Ladies of Africa congratulated Dr. Rasha Kelej , CEO for her appointment as the CEO of Merck Foundation which makes her the the first Female , African and Youngest ever Chief Executive Officer for Merck Foundation. And at Merck.

Chairperson of National Assembly of Namibia, Hon. Margaret Mensah-Williams emphasized “I am very proud to be an ambassador for Merck Foundation in my country, the appointment of Dr. Rasha Kelej as the CEO of Merck foundation is a great proof that Merck believes in women empowerment, diversity and empowering of African talents as a core part of their strategy. Such an important vision which we all share as African women leaders.” 

Prof. Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp, Chairman of the Executive Board and Family Board of E-Merck KG emphasized “Merck is a value driven company and that is one of the reasons why Merck through its foundation is committed to support the social and economic development of Africa, Asia and developing countries by building healthcare capacity and improving access to innovative and equitable healthcare in the continent.”

Dr. Rasha Kelej emphasized in our interview “I am very proud to have very influential women leader to launch Merck foundation and inaugurate the Luminary”.

The First Ladies pledged their committed to long term partnership with Merck foundation and their foundation and ministries of health of their countries to implement the fertility and cancer access programs in their countries.

First Lady of Chad, Madame Hinda Deby Itno emphasized “I will be very happy to lead campaigns and raise awareness about infertility to break the stigma around infertile women together with Merck foundation, we are discussing the execution of the training programs for our first fertility specialists in my country which will contribute to helping couples to find solutions to make happy families.”

A side meeting have been held with each First lady and ministers of health to define the strategy and execution plans of Merck more than a mother and Merck Cancer access program.

Individual visits have been decided toi identify infertile women and enroll them in Merck more than a mother empowerment programs in each country.

First Lady of Niger, H. E, Madam Aissata Issoufou Mahamadou said “we are very proud to partner with Merck Foundation for such noble cause, I am happy to accept the appointment as an ambassador of Merck more than a mother to empower infertile women through access to awareness, health and change of mindset in Niger”.

First Lady of Guinea Conakry, H.E. Madam Djene Kaba Condé commented “I am personally involved in community awareness to empower women in my country, I welcome this noble cause to save women from discrimination and mistreatment for no reason at all except their inability of bearing children which is equally caused by their husbands and yet they are solely blamed for it. We will work very closely with Merck more than a mother to change this unfair behavior and create a culture shift. We are also very happy to provide oncology training for our doctors as we do not have any oncologists in Guinea, this will leave a very strong impact on the health of my people.”

First lady of Central African Republic, H.E, Madam Brigitte Touadera has received an acknowledgment award from Merck foundation as a recognition for her successful role as ambassador for Merck more than a Mother in 2016 and 2017 and the successful partnership with Merck foundation to build healthcare capacity in the post conflict country.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Merck Foundation.

Media contact: 
Sandrah Mulluka
Sandrah.Mulluka@MerckGroup.com

Join the conversation on our social media platforms below and let your voice be heard

• Facebook:https://APO.af/QuFBwD.
• Twitter: @Merckfoundation (https://APO.af/sE2D1R).
• YouTube:https://APO.af/FXHvez.

Join Merck Foundation healthcare & research online community to exchange experience and information with other healthcare providers, researchers, students, policy makers and community members in Africa and beyond www.Merck-Foundation.com free registration.

About Merck Foundation:
The Merck Foundation (www.Merck-Foundation.com), established in 2017, is a philanthropic organization that aims to improve the health and wellbeing of people and advance their lives through science and technology. Our efforts are primarily focused on improving access to innovative healthcare solutions in underserved communities, building healthcare and scientific research capacity and empowering people in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) with a special focus on women and youth. All Merck Foundation press releases are distributed by e-mail at the same time they become available on the Merck Foundation Website. Please go to www.Merck-Foundation.com to read more and/or register online to interact and exchange experience with our registered members.

On 21 September 2016, the Ministry of Health, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and all of the nutrition partners held a ceremony for the official bestowal of the title of Ambassador for Nutrition upon H.E Mrs. Djené Kaba Condé, first lady of the Republic of Guinea. The title, symbolically engraved on a marble plaque, was solemnly handed over by Mrs. Séraphine Wakana, Coordinator of the United Nations System in Guinea.

This ceremony was coupled with the closure of this year’s World Breastfeeding Week, the theme of which was ‘Breastfeeding in relation to sustainability’. The ceremony was also marked by the projection of TV films made to raise awareness of nutrition issues. The first lady was accompanied to the podium by Mrs. Séraphine Wakana, Coordinator of the United Nations System, Mr. Marc Robin, representative of UNICEF, Mrs. Marie Jeanne Kampire, representative of the World Health Organization representative and Dr. Fanta Kaba, representative of the Minister of Health. Special guests, notably included a number of ambassadors of friendly countries, the wives of the Prime Minister and members of the government, and female parliamentarians. Women’s associations and networks, representatives of civil society and nutrition players were also strongly mobilized for the occasion.

This ceremony was also marked by three major presentations: A study on breastfeeding in Guinea, carried out by the Institut de Nutrition et de la Santé de l’Enfant (Institute of child nutrition and health – INSE); the nutritional situation in Guinea by the Division Alimentation Nutrition (Food and nutrition division – DAN) of the Ministry of Health; a presentation on the SUN movement and the importance of the SUN Ambassadors and Champions by UNICEF Guinea.

The high point of the ceremony was the official nomination of the first lady of the republic as the ambassador of nutrition for Guinea by the resident coordinator of the United Nations system. Next, around twenty honorary awards signed by the first lady, ambassador of nutrition, were presented to the NGOs and institutions that had distinguished themselves this year in the field of nutrition.
The ceremony closed with a strong commitment from the premier to play her role fully.