Johannesburg: Merck Foundation, in collaboration with African First Ladies and Ministries of Health, marked 'World Cancer Day 2026' by initiating a significant step toward enhancing oncology care capacity across the continent. This initiative has led to the awarding of 258 scholarships in oncology to healthcare providers from 34 countries, a move that promises to bolster the number of trained oncologists in Africa. According to African Press Organization, this partnership aims to address critical gaps in cancer care, including late diagnosis and a shortage of trained specialists. Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej (Ret.), CEO of Merck Foundation, emphasized the importance of these efforts, stating that the scholarships will significantly increase the number of trained oncologists and develop multidisciplinary cancer care teams in several African countries. Notably, countries such as The Gambia, Sierra Leone, Burundi, Liberia, and others are seeing the training of their first oncologists and cancer care teams. The Merc k Foundation has provided over 2,500 scholarships to healthcare providers from 52 countries in various critical and underserved specialties. This initiative includes one-year clinical training in oncology sub-specialties and postgraduate diplomas and master's degrees from reputed universities in the UK. These efforts are part of the broader Cancer Access Program, which aims to transform patient care and advance cancer treatment in Africa. Africa faces approximately 1.1 million new cancer cases and about 700,000 cancer deaths annually, as reported by WHO data in 2022. The higher cancer mortality rates in Africa, compared to other world regions, underline the importance of Merck Foundation's oncology scholarships in strengthening cancer care capacity. Dr. Kelej highlighted that early diagnosis can lead to successful treatment in nearly two-thirds of cancer cases, and up to one-third of cases can be prevented through risk reduction. To raise awareness, the foundation has launched a children's storybook and ani mation film, "Ray of Hope," in partnership with African First Ladies. This story focuses on childhood cancer and underscores the significance of early detection and access to trained cancer care teams. Awareness materials, including leaflets and videos on cancer prevention and early detection, have also been created. Dr. Judith Mkwaila, a Merck Foundation Alumni from Malawi, shared her experience of being awarded a scholarship for the Surgical Oncology fellowship in India. This training allowed her to acquire skills in complex oncological procedures and led to her becoming the first and only female Chief Surgeon at the Mzuzu Central Hospital. She expressed gratitude to Merck Foundation for the opportunity to improve her knowledge and skills, enabling her to contribute to high-quality cancer care.