Women & Health Advocacy: Merck Foundation, with Africa’s First Ladies, announced winners of its 2025 Fashion, Song and Film Awards, using themes “More Than a Mother” and “Diabetes & Hypertension” to push awareness on issues like infertility stigma, girl education, GBV, and early detection of diabetes and high blood pressure. Leadership Recognition: Merck Foundation CEO Dr. Rasha Kelej was named among “100 Most Impactful Voices 2026” by ABCD Africa, highlighting her work on women’s empowerment, girls’ education, and better access to healthcare. Water Security: A new push to map Africa’s groundwater aims to help communities find safer, pumpable water as droughts and heavy rains become more erratic, targeting the hundreds of millions still without basic drinking water. Health Diplomacy: Japan signed a loan to support reforms under the Philippines’ universal health care program, focusing on sustainable financing, quality service delivery, and accountability—while Gabon’s ambassador was among those welcomed for expanded cooperation including healthcare. Public Health at Mass Gatherings: Senegal’s fire brigade reported 12 deaths and 182 emergency incidents during preparations for the Grand Magal pilgrimage in Touba, alongside large-scale medical and rescue deployment. Mental Health & Treatment Access: A discussion highlighted ibogaine clinic work linked to PTSD support, including claims of major symptom reduction and efforts to scale clinical access while protecting Gabonese tradition.