Merck Foundation Chairman and CEO with the First Ladies of Africa and Asia during the Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative Summit 2025
I am immensely proud to join hands with African and Asian First Ladies, the Ambassadors of our “More Than a Mother” Campaign, to mark World Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) Day 2025. Together, we are transforming the landscape of fertility care and empowering women across Africa and Asia through impactful initiatives under Merck Foundation “More Than a Mother” Campaign.
At Merck Foundation we mark World Assisted Reproductive Technology Day by building Fertility and Reproductive Care capacity and empowering infertile women by improving their access to information, change of mindset and quality & equitable fertility care across Africa & Asia as part of our ‘More than a Mother’ campaign. I am very proud to share that we have provided till today 716 scholarships of Embryology, Fertility and Sexual & Reproductive care to young doctors from 41 countries in Africa and Asia to be the local Embryologists, Fertility & Reproductive care experts in their countries. Moreover, many of our Alumni were trained to be the first local experts in their countries where they never had even a single local embryologist or fertility specialist before our program such as; The Gambia, Burundi, Guinea, Chad, Niger, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Malawi, Congo, Mozambique and more. Together with African First Ladies, and other important partners, we are making history and reshaping the landscape of fertility & Reproductive care across Africa and beyond.
Through our “More Than a Mother” Campaign, we have empowered communities by training 716 doctors from 41 countries in Embryology, Fertility, and Sexual & Reproductive Care, enabling countries like The Gambia, Burundi, and Sierra Leone to have their first local specialists. This transformative work, part of our broader effort to provide 2,280 scholarships across 44 critical specialties, is strengthening healthcare systems and improving access to quality fertility care.
Our “More Than a Mother” Campaign is dedicated to breaking infertility stigma, raising awareness about infertility prevention and male infertility, and improving access to equitable fertility care. We have trained over 3,700 media representatives from more than 35 countries to amplify these messages and create a cultural shift. Additionally, our “Empowering Berna” initiative supports childless and infertile women in countries like Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria, and Malawi by providing training to establish small businesses, enabling them to become independent and rebuild their lives. It’s all about giving every woman the respect and the help she deserves to lead a fulfilling life, with or without a child.
We have also launched creative initiatives to address infertility stigma, including the “More Than a Mother” Animation Film, Children’s Storybooks in English, French, and Portuguese, and our pan-African TV program “Our Africa,” which features episodes dedicated to this cause. Furthermore, we have released about 30 songs, including impactful tracks like “Plus qu’une MERE” by Ms. Lucky-Lou from Burundi and “More Than a Mother” by artists from Ghana, Zambia, and The Gambia, to raise awareness and inspire change.
“More Than a Mother Animation Film” that raises awareness about breaking infertility stigma, infertility prevention and male infertility, watch here:
To address this important issue of breaking infertility stigma and also a wide range of other social issues, we annually launch Merck Foundation ‘More Than a Mother’ Awards in partnership with African First Ladies. I would also like to invite the African Community of Media, Fashion, Filmmaking, and Musicians, students, and potential talents in these fields to apply for the awards this year by sharing their creative work on submit@merck-foundation.com.
Watch, share & subscribe to the ‘Plus qu’une MERE’ composed and sung by Ms. Lucky-Lou, the daughter of The President and The First Lady of Burundi:
Watch, share & subscribe to the “More Than a Mother” song by Cwesi Oteng and Adina from Ghana:
Watch, share & subscribe to the “More Than a Mother” song by Zambian Soul Singer Wezi:
Watch, share & subscribe to the “More Than a Mother” song by Sunita Daffeh from the Gambia:
Kind Regards,
Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej,
CEO of Merck Foundation
President of ‘More Than a Mother’ campaign
Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation, with H.E. Dr. ANA DIAS LOURENÇO, First Lady of Angola, during the MFFLI Summit 2025
Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation, with H.E. Dr. DÉBORA KATISA CARVALHO, First Lady of Cabo Verde, during the MFFLI Summit 2025
Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation, with H.E. Madam BRIGITTE TOUADERA, First Lady of Central African Republic, during the MFFLI Summit 2025
Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation, with H.E. Madam ZITA OLONGHO, First Lady of Gabon, during the MFFLI Summit 2025
Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation, with H.E. Madam FATOUMATTA BAH-BARROW, First Lady of The Gambia, during the MFFLI Summit 2025
Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation, with H.E. Mrs. LORDINA DRAMANI MAHAMA, First Lady of Ghana, during the MFFLI Summit 2025.
Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation, with H.E. Mrs. RACHEL RUTO E.G.H., First Lady of Kenya, during the MFFLI Summit 2025
Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation, with H.E. Mrs. KARTUMU YARTA BOAKAI, First Lady of Liberia, during the MFFLI Summit 2025
Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation, with H.E. Madam SAJIDHA MOHAMED, First Lady of Maldives, during the MFFLI Summit 2025
Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation, with H.E. Dr. GUETA SELEMANE CHAPO, First Lady of Mozambique, during the MFFLI Summit 2025
Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation, with H.E. Senator OLUREMI TINUBU, CON, First Lady of Nigeria, during the MFFLI Summit 2025
Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation, with H.E. Mrs. MARIA DE FATIMA VILA NOVA, First Lady of São Tomé and Príncipe, during the MFFLI Summit 2025
Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation, with H.E. Madam MARIE KHONE FAYE, First Lady of Senegal, during the MFFLI Summit 2025
Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation, with H.E. Amai Dr. AUXILLIA MNANGAGWA, First Lady of Zimbabwe, during the MFFLI Summit 2025
