ISSUE 48/DEC2022 - Flipbook - Page 27
Africa’s Most Influential Women | EVERYDAY HEROES
CEO: Merck Foundation, Senator: Egyptian Senate
President: “More Than a Mother” campaign
HEALTH EDUCATION & MEDIA: Womens Right Champion
Since Dr Kelej created “More Than a Mother” seven years ago, she has
increasingly become a leading voice beyond this campaign against
infertility stigma and childless women, devoting her passion for health,
education and women rights even further through numerous other
pertinent projects. She is also a Senator at the Egyptian Senate.
E
ver since Dr Kelej
started her career in the
international healthcare
and biotechnology
industry in 1994. Over
the past ten years, her
work in the field of social,
health, and economic development
of Africa and other developing
countries, has not gone unnoticed.
Under her leadership, Merck
Foundation (the philanthropic arm
of Merck KGaA), was recognized
as the “2022 NGO of the Year” in
Africa, for its collective efforts and
contributions to shaping Africa’s
future through key sectors such as
health, education and economic
empowerment by transforming
patient care landscape, supporting
girl education, creating a culture
shift by empowering women and
breaking infertility stigma in Africa
and beyond.
To help achieve the Merck
Foundations’ goals, Dr Rasha
works closely with partners
including with more than 20
African First Ladies, Ministries of
Health, Education, Information,
Communication and Gender.
She also partners with Academia
and Research Institutions as well as
the Media and Arts establishments.
These partnerships go a long way
in helping to build healthcare
capacities which in turn help
to address health, social and
economic challenges in underserved communities.
Health and patient access
In the realm of health, Dr Kelej
is helping transform patient
care in Africa through various
means. As Merck Foundation’s
she has to-date, championed and
made a reality, more than 1470
scholarships provided by Merck
foundation for doctors from
50 countries in 32 critical and
underserved medical specialties.
This has led to great improvements
in patient access to quality and
equitable healthcare solutions
across Africa and other parts of
the globe where Merk Foundation
operates.
“I am proud that we have provided
these scholarships to young
doctors…The scholarships range
from one-year, two-year, and
three-year Diplomas to a Masters’
Degree in more than 32 critical
and underserved specialties,
including in the fields of Fertility,
Embryology, Oncology, Diabetes,
Endocrinology, Respiratory and
many more. By doing so, we are
helping to create history and
Merck Foundation is becoming
an important part of Africa’s
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Dec 2022 New African Woman
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