Merck Launches ThyroAfrica Initiative to Combat Hypothyroidism in Kenya and Beyond
Fadi Emile, Merck’s Marketing Manager speaking during a press briefing.
Merck, through its health division, has unveiled an ambitious health campaign dubbed ThyroAfrica, targeting the diagnosis and treatment of hypothyroidism across Africa starting with Kenya.
Speaking during a press briefing, Fadi Emile, Marketing Manager for Merck’s Hypothyroidism Division, highlighted that the condition remains significantly underdiagnosed in many countries, with Kenya among those most affected.
“Kenya alone has approximately 1.32 million people living with altered TSH levels, yet many remain unaware,” he noted.
In response, Merck has rolled out a three-pillar strategy to tackle the disease, starting with public awareness. “Hypothyroidism often goes unnoticed, especially among young women, some of whom may face fertility issues without knowing the cause,” Emile said.
Leveraging Kenya’s high smartphone usage, Merck launched a Facebook page, ThyroAfrica, to educate the public. The page includes a Thyroid Aware feature allowing users to self-assess risk and seek early testing.
The second pillar, HSP Diagnosis Excellence, focuses on training healthcare professionals. With only 35–45 endocrinologists in Kenya to serve over a million patients, Merck aims to empower general practitioners and primary care providers through webinars, partnerships with local medical societies like KDSG and TDAC, and digital tools.
Merck has also partnered with Visita to allow patients to book appointments with trained doctors online.
Additionally, the introduction of the TLAB application provides up-to-date clinical guidelines to support accurate diagnosis and precise treatment dosing.
The third pillar targets affordable testing. Recognizing the high cost of TSH tests, especially in rural areas, Merck partnered with Cerba Lancet laboratories to offer a 25 percent discount on thyroid tests. This aims to bridge the gap for underserved populations in regions such as Kisumu and Eldoret.
“From just 100,000 treated patients, we’ve seen that number grow to 150,000 in a few months. Our goal is to reach all 1.3 million patients within the next few years,” Emile added.
ThyroAfrica is currently a Merck-led initiative based on data collected in Kenya, Nigeria, and Tanzania.
Plans are underway to expand the program to other African nations, including Uganda, reflecting a broader commitment to tackling hypothyroidism continent-wide.
Merck Launches ThyroAfrica Campaign to Combat Growing Burden of Thyroid Disorders in Africa
By Sharon Atieno
