Merck Foundation has vowed to sustain the fight against gender-based violence (GBV) in Botswana and other parts of Africa.
The philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany reiterated its commitment to the anti-GBV campaign while announcing winners of its ‘Stop GBV’ Poster Contest.
The contest was held across Botswana with the aim of selecting the most creative and inspiring anti-GBV work in the country.
About one in ten females and nearly one in 20 males aged 13–17 years experienced sexual violence in the southern African country in 2018, according to the Violence Against Children study.
The report also noted that this age group, 13–17, is most vulnerable to HIV as HIV prevalence of young women, 15 to 19 years, is three times that of the male counterparts (14.6 percent and five percent).
The poster contest, according to te foundation, was held with a view to preventing GBV and child abuse in Botswana.
‘We have worked with the jury committee to select the most creative and inspiring work advocating one of the key contest objectives’, Merck Foundation Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Rasha Kelej, who joined the award ceremony virtually, said.
‘In 2020, I virtually joined the Botswana first lady during her cycling tour to stop GBV and marked the International Day of Elimination of Violence against Women and Girls together.
‘I salute my dear sister, the first lady of Botswana, for her great efforts and innovative idea to stop gender-based violence and encourage us to take a stand against GBV and child abuse’.
For her part, the country’s first lady, Neo Jane Masisi, said, ‘We will continue our joint efforts to fight against GBV, protect humanity, especially the girls and women.
‘The Covid pandemic gave rise to violence against girls, women and children. GBV has destroyed families and promoted disunity within communities, both at national and international level; and this initiative is to demonstrate our effort to fight for this cause, and eradicate GBV from our societies’.
The Merck Foundation, established in 2017, aims to improve the health and well-being of people and advance their lives through science and technology.
According to the foundation, its efforts are primarily focused on improving access to quality and equitable health care solutions in underserved communities, building health care and scientific research capacity
Source: Merck Foundation
Photo source: UNICEF Botswana
