Mensagem de boas-vindas da Dra. Rasha Kelej sobre a nomeação da Nova Primeira Dama do Burundi, S. Exa. ANGELINE NDAYISHIMIYE, como Embaixadora da Merck More Than a Mother

Tenho o orgulho de partilhar com vossas excelências o vídeo do encontro com a nova Primeira Dama do Burundi, S. Exa  ANGELINE NDAYISHIMIYE no mês passado para nomeá-la Embaixadora da “Merck More Than A Mother” para trabalhar juntos no empoderamento das mulheres com infertilidade no Burundi, através do acesso à informação, saúde e mudança de mentalidade.

Discutimos a nossa colaboração e parceria de longo prazo com a sua Fundação, Ministério da Saúde e o Ministério da Educação para continuar os nossos esforços na construção de capacidade de saúde, oferecer formação especializada a mais médicos e empoderar as meninas por meio da educação.  Mais de 31 médicos do Burundi foram inscritos nos nossos programas de formação.

A Merck Foundation continuará o seu importante programa “Educating Linda” junto a Primeira Dama do Burundi para patrocinar a educação de 20 meninas com melhor desempenho nas suas escolas secundárias até que se formem.

Além disso, a Merck Foundation felicitou três vencedores do Burundi pela conquista dos Prémios de jornalismo “Stay at Home” dos países da África Austral para elevar a conscientização sobre a COVID 19 no país.

Fique ligado para saber mais sobre o lançamento da nossa parceria …

Obrigado, Senhora Primeira Dama, minha querida irmã, pela visita e por este valioso encontro.

Atenciosamente,
Dr. Rasha Kelej,

CEO of Merck Foundation
President of Merck More Than A Mother
Most Influential Africans ( 2019 & 2020 )
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OCHA condemns killing of school children in Cameroon

Soldiers patrol in Bafut, after the roof of a school’s dormitory was set to fire overnight, on November 15, 2017, in the northwest English-speaking region of Cameroon. Authorities in Cameroon have imposed a night-time curfew on November 8, 2017 and ordered the closure of shops and public places in the main city in a region rocked by unrest among the country’s anglophone minority. Four makeshift bombs exploded overnight on November 12, a week after four soldiers were killed in the two administrative areas where most of Cameroon’s anglophone minority live. Their deaths have been blamed by the authorities on “terrorists” — anglophones campaigning for the two English-speaking areas, the Northwest and Southwest Regions, to secede from Cameroon. / AFP PHOTO / – (Photo credit should read -/AFP via Getty Images)

United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) on Saturday evening strongly condemned the killing of school children in Cameroon’s restive English-speaking region of Southwest.

“Violence against schools and school children is not acceptable under any circumstances, and can constitute a crime against humanity if proven in a court of law,” Matthias Naab, humanitarian coordinator in Cameroon, said in a statement issued in the capital Yaounde Saturday evening.

Early Saturday, students were studying in a classroom at the Mother Francisca International Bilingual Academy in Kumba of Southwest region, when gunmen invaded and opened fire. According to OCHA, at least eight children were killed and another 12 wounded.

The gunmen were believed to be armed separatists, active in the region since 2017, according to local authorities.

Armed separatists have been clashing with government forces since 2017 in a bid to create an independent nation in the two English-speaking regions of Cameroon, Northwest and Southwest

Rasha Kelej, the CEO of Merck Foundation makes it to the list of 100 Most Influential African Women 2020

Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation & President, Merck More Than a Mother; One of 100 Most Influential Africans 2019 & 2020

Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation and President, Merck More Than a Mother has been featured in the list of 100 Most Influential African Women 2020, released by ‘Be a Girl’ Initiative, for the second time as she was selected to be One of Most Influential African Women by New African Magazine, UK, 2019.

Rasha Kelej has been recognized for her efforts through Merck Foundation programs to train thousands of African doctors, to support African communities during Coronavirus lockdown and to empower girls in education so that they can reach their potential and pursue their dreams through “Educating Linda” program. This is for the second time, as she made the 100 Most Influential Africans (women and men) in 2019 by New African Magazine, UK, for empowering women in general and infertile women in particular through the “Merck More Than a Mother” campaign, which is a historic movement that aims to empower childless and infertile women through access to information, education, and change of mind-sets.

Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation & President, Merck More Than a Mother, recognized as One of 100 Most Influential African Women 2020

Dr. Rasha Kelej is very well respected in the African Communities at all levels and this for her dedication and passion to unleash the potential of young Africans and her coherent strategy and implementation of serious programs that shape the Public healthcare landscape in Africa positively. More than a thousand young doctors from 35 countries have benefited from unique opportunities of specialty education in many fields such as Diabetes, Cardiovascular, Endocrinology, Sexual and Reproductive Medicines, Respiratory, Acute Medicines, Oncology, Fertility, Embryology, and scientific research.

Expressing gratitude on the recognition, Dr. Rasha Kelej emphasized, “I feel honored and proud to receive this recognition and to be included in this prestigious list among such renowned African women from all spheres of life. This is an important recognition not only for me but to Merck Foundation and our team. As an African and an Egyptian woman, I have a great passion for improving access to equitable and quality healthcare solutions for all Africans. I am very lucky to work as CEO of Merck Foundation as I am empowered by them to realize our unique vision through such successful pan African programs in partnership with African First Ladies, to contribute to the future of these girls as part of our signature campaign “Merck More Than a Mother”. I strongly believe that empowering women starts with education, to enable them to be healthier, stronger, and independent.”

“This recognition will also encourage and motivate me to empower the talented girls of my beautiful continent. I promise to use my influence to support and empower women, support girl child education, and build healthcare capacity in Africa, Asia and beyond”, added Dr. Rasha Kelej.

The list has a representation of the most powerful African women from 34 countries, chosen from various career backgrounds including diplomacy, philanthropy, politics, activism, entrepreneurship, business leadership, and entertainment. It includes many famous names like; H. E. Monica Geingos, The First Lady of Namibia; H.E. Elene Sirleaf, Former President of Liberia, amongst others.

Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation and president of “Merck More than a Mother” was recognized last year as one of most influential Africans in 2019 to acknowledge her efforts to empower infertile women through the historic campaign “Merck More Than a Mother”.

She has been able to work in long term partnerships with 18 African First Ladies as Ambassadors of Merck more than a Mother to build local healthcare capacity, empower girls in education and break infertility stigma across the continent.

Edited by Winnie Botha from ‘For Africa’ Media