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Merck Foundation Launches Nationwide Diabetes & Hypertension Program on World Heart Day
The Merck Foundation marked World Heart Day 2026 by launching its Nationwide Diabetes & Hypertension Blue Points Program in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
Through this program, the foundation provided 956 scholarships for healthcare providers from 52 countries to pursue online diplomas or master's degrees in diabetes, cardiovascular preventive care, endocrinology, cardiology, and obesity management.
The program aims to build capacity in specialized healthcare services, particularly in Africa, where cardiovascular diseases have emerged as the leading cause of NCD deaths. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 1 million cardiovascular deaths were estimated in 2019.