By Stephanie M. Duncan
First Lady Kartumu Yarta Boakai, has called on world leaders to prioritize peace, healthcare, and human dignity over conflict and division, stressing that the future of humanity depends on compassion rather than military might.
Speaking virtually on Thursday at the 13th Edition of the Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary and Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative (MFFLI) Summit, Mrs. Boakai reflected on the fragility of peace and health in an increasingly interconnected world.
Addressing fellow First Ladies, policymakers, and development partners, the Liberian First Lady said recent global events—including armed conflicts and disease outbreaks that disrupted planned summit gatherings in Dubai and India—serve as reminders that no nation is immune from the suffering of others.
“There are moments in history when the world gathers beyond speeches to search its conscience. This is one of those moments,” Mrs. Boakai declared.
Drawing from a personal experience during a visit to Dubai earlier this year amid escalating regional tensions, the First Lady recounted hearing the sounds of conflict nearby and being reminded of the suffering endured by women and children in war zones.
“I was no longer thinking as a First Lady attending an official international duty; I was thinking as a mother,” she said, emphasizing that every act of war ultimately affects families and innocent children.
Mrs. Boakai urged First Ladies around the world to use their unique positions to influence leadership with wisdom and compassion.
“As First Ladies, we sit beside Presidents and Heads of State. Perhaps this is the season for us to go above and beyond, standing beside them in ceremony, but also speaking wisdom into leadership itself,” she stated.
Highlighting Liberia’s partnership with the Merck Foundation, Mrs. Boakai praised the organization’s contributions to strengthening the country’s healthcare sector. According to her, Liberia has benefited from 58 scholarships awarded to healthcare professionals in specialized fields, including fertility care, oncology, diabetes management, pediatrics, infectious diseases, dermatology, and endocrinology.
She noted that many of the beneficiaries are the first specialists in their respective disciplines in Liberia, helping to transform the nation’s healthcare landscape.
“History is literally walking through our hospitals,” she remarked. “We are no longer exporting hope; we are building it at home.”
As Ambassador of the Merck Foundation’s “More Than a Mother” campaign, Mrs. Boakai also highlighted efforts to combat stigma surrounding infertility. She revealed that 28 scholarships have been dedicated to fertility, embryology, and reproductive healthcare.
“A woman’s worth must never be measured by her womb, but by her humanity,” she emphasized, describing the campaign as an effort to replace stigma with science and compassion.
The First Lady further underscored the importance of girls’ education, noting that the Merck Foundation’s Educating Linda Program is supporting 40 underprivileged but high-performing Liberian girls through scholarships, mentorship, and leadership development initiatives.
“When you educate a girl, you do not change a classroom—you alter the destiny of a nation,” she said.
Mrs. Boakai also commended the foundation’s use of media, arts, and culture to address social issues, arguing that changing public attitudes is essential for long-term development.
“Policies may change laws, but culture changes minds. And once minds change, societies begin to heal,” she noted.
Calling for greater investments in healthcare, education, mental health awareness, and women’s empowerment, the First Lady urged leaders to embrace a shared commitment to healing and human development.
“The future of humanity will not ultimately be decided by those who build the biggest armies, but by those who build the strongest systems of compassion,” she said.
Mrs. Boakai concluded by expressing gratitude to the Merck Foundation for its continued investment in Africa and reaffirmed Liberia’s commitment to advancing healthcare and educational opportunities for its citizens.
She challenged fellow First Ladies to ensure that history remembers them as advocates who stood up for women and children, strengthened healthcare systems, and promoted peace.
“While others prepared for war, Africa’s women prepared for healing,” she declared.
The virtual summit also marked the 9th anniversary of the Merck Foundation and celebrated 14 years of healthcare, education, and women’s empowerment programs across Africa and Asia.
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