{"id":8026,"date":"2026-02-26T11:58:32","date_gmt":"2026-02-26T07:58:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/?p=8026"},"modified":"2026-02-26T11:58:33","modified_gmt":"2026-02-26T07:58:33","slug":"merck-foundation-ceo-together-with-african-first-ladies-mark-world-cancer-day-2026-by-building-oncology-care-capacity-through-258-cancer-care-scholarships-across-34-countries","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/?p=8026","title":{"rendered":"Merck Foundation CEO together with African First Ladies mark \u2018World Cancer Day 2026\u2019 by building Oncology Care Capacity through 258 cancer care Scholarships across 34 countries"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/International-Day-of-Girls-and-Women-in-Science-2026-7-1.jpg-1-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8027\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/International-Day-of-Girls-and-Women-in-Science-2026-7-1.jpg-1-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/International-Day-of-Girls-and-Women-in-Science-2026-7-1.jpg-1-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/International-Day-of-Girls-and-Women-in-Science-2026-7-1.jpg-1-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/International-Day-of-Girls-and-Women-in-Science-2026-7-1.jpg-1-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/International-Day-of-Girls-and-Women-in-Science-2026-7-1.jpg-1-600x600.jpg 600w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/International-Day-of-Girls-and-Women-in-Science-2026-7-1.jpg-1-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/International-Day-of-Girls-and-Women-in-Science-2026-7-1.jpg-1.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><p><em><strong>Merck Foundation Chairman and CEO with the First Ladies of Africa and Asia during the Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative Summit 2025&nbsp;<\/strong><\/em><\/p><ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Merck Foundation together with African First Ladies and Ministries of Health continues to build cancer care capacity by providing around 260 Scholarships of One-year Clinical Training in many oncology sub- specialties, and One year and Two year Post Graduate Diploma and Master Degree of Cancer and Clinical Oncology, Medical Oncology and Pain Management.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n<li><strong>Merck Foundation is making history in Africa by training the First African Oncologists and First Cancer Care Teams in Countries such as The Gambia, Sierra Leone, Burundi, Liberia, Guinea Conakry, Central African Republic, Chad, Malawi, Niger, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe and more.<\/strong><\/li><\/ul><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1008\" height=\"1008\" src=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Message-from-Merck-Foundation-CEO-to-mark-World-Cancer-day-2026-11.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8028\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Message-from-Merck-Foundation-CEO-to-mark-World-Cancer-day-2026-11.jpeg 1008w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Message-from-Merck-Foundation-CEO-to-mark-World-Cancer-day-2026-11-300x300.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Message-from-Merck-Foundation-CEO-to-mark-World-Cancer-day-2026-11-150x150.jpeg 150w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Message-from-Merck-Foundation-CEO-to-mark-World-Cancer-day-2026-11-768x768.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Message-from-Merck-Foundation-CEO-to-mark-World-Cancer-day-2026-11-600x600.jpeg 600w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Message-from-Merck-Foundation-CEO-to-mark-World-Cancer-day-2026-11-100x100.jpeg 100w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1008px) 100vw, 1008px\" \/><\/figure><p><strong>Merck Foundation Chairman and CEO together with African First Ladies recently released \u201cRay of Hope\u201d children\u2019s storybook and Animation Film for Cancer Awareness in three languages.<\/strong><\/p><p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>Watch \u2018Ray of Hope\u2019 animation film here<\/strong><\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"ast-oembed-container \" style=\"height: 100%;\"><iframe title=\"&quot;Ray of Hope&quot; \u2013Merck Foundation Film on Early Detection and Treatment of Childhood Cancer\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/6vCAufPnCPw?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div><\/figure><p><strong>Merck Foundation,<\/strong>\u00a0the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany, marks\u00a0<strong>\u2018World Cancer Day 2026\u2019<\/strong>\u00a0together with\u00a0<strong>Africa\u2019s First Ladies and Ministries of Health<\/strong>\u00a0by continuing to build and advance cancer care capacity through their Cancer Access Program, with the aim to increase the limited number of Oncologists in Africa.<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Senator-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-CEO-of-Merck-Foundation-with-Oncology-Alumni2-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8029\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Senator-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-CEO-of-Merck-Foundation-with-Oncology-Alumni2-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Senator-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-CEO-of-Merck-Foundation-with-Oncology-Alumni2-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Senator-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-CEO-of-Merck-Foundation-with-Oncology-Alumni2-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Senator-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-CEO-of-Merck-Foundation-with-Oncology-Alumni2-1536x1022.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Senator-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-CEO-of-Merck-Foundation-with-Oncology-Alumni2-600x399.jpg 600w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Senator-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-CEO-of-Merck-Foundation-with-Oncology-Alumni2.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em><strong>Dr. Rasha Kelej with Merck Foundation Alumni<\/strong><\/em><\/p><p><strong>Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej (Ret.)<\/strong>\u00a0explained, \u201cAt Merck Foundation, we mark\u00a0<strong>World Cancer Day<\/strong>\u00a0through our sustained, everyday efforts to transform cancer care in Africa by addressing one of its most critical gaps: late diagnosis and the shortage of trained specialists.<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"938\" height=\"938\" src=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Message-from-Merck-Foundation-CEO-to-mark-World-Cancer-day-2026-4_1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8030\" style=\"width:1026px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Message-from-Merck-Foundation-CEO-to-mark-World-Cancer-day-2026-4_1.jpg 938w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Message-from-Merck-Foundation-CEO-to-mark-World-Cancer-day-2026-4_1-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Message-from-Merck-Foundation-CEO-to-mark-World-Cancer-day-2026-4_1-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Message-from-Merck-Foundation-CEO-to-mark-World-Cancer-day-2026-4_1-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Message-from-Merck-Foundation-CEO-to-mark-World-Cancer-day-2026-4_1-600x600.jpg 600w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Message-from-Merck-Foundation-CEO-to-mark-World-Cancer-day-2026-4_1-100x100.jpg 100w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 938px) 100vw, 938px\" \/><\/figure><p>Together with my dear sisters, African First Ladies, we have strengthened cancer care capacity in the continent by providing\u00a0<strong>258 Oncology Scholarships<\/strong>\u00a0for healthcare providers from\u00a0<strong>34 African and Asian countries<\/strong>, significantly increasing the number of trained oncologists and developing the multidisciplinary cancer care teams. In several of these countries, there wasn\u2019t even a single oncologist. We are very proud that we are making history by training the first oncologists and first multidisciplinary cancer care teams in many countries like The Gambia, Sierra Leone, Burundi, Liberia, Guinea Conakry, Central African Republic, Chad, Niger, and many more.\u201d<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1008\" height=\"1008\" src=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Message-from-Merck-Foundation-CEO-to-mark-World-Cancer-day-2026-5_1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8031\" style=\"width:1026px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Message-from-Merck-Foundation-CEO-to-mark-World-Cancer-day-2026-5_1.jpg 1008w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Message-from-Merck-Foundation-CEO-to-mark-World-Cancer-day-2026-5_1-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Message-from-Merck-Foundation-CEO-to-mark-World-Cancer-day-2026-5_1-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Message-from-Merck-Foundation-CEO-to-mark-World-Cancer-day-2026-5_1-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Message-from-Merck-Foundation-CEO-to-mark-World-Cancer-day-2026-5_1-600x600.jpg 600w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Message-from-Merck-Foundation-CEO-to-mark-World-Cancer-day-2026-5_1-100x100.jpg 100w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1008px) 100vw, 1008px\" \/><\/figure><p>Merck Foundation in total provided more than&nbsp;<strong>2500 scholarships<\/strong>&nbsp;for healthcare providers from&nbsp;<strong>52 countries<\/strong>&nbsp;in&nbsp;<strong>44 critical and underserved specialities.<\/strong><\/p><p>\u201cMerck Foundation remains committed to transforming the landscape of patient care in general, and cancer care in particular, leading Africa toward a healthier future,\u201d&nbsp;<strong>Dr. Rasha Kelej&nbsp;<\/strong>further explained<strong>.<\/strong><\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"623\" src=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Merck-Foundation-Chairman-and-CEO-with-African-and-Asian-First-Ladies-at-their-Africa-Asia-Luminary-1024x623.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8032\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Merck-Foundation-Chairman-and-CEO-with-African-and-Asian-First-Ladies-at-their-Africa-Asia-Luminary-1024x623.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Merck-Foundation-Chairman-and-CEO-with-African-and-Asian-First-Ladies-at-their-Africa-Asia-Luminary-300x183.jpg 300w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Merck-Foundation-Chairman-and-CEO-with-African-and-Asian-First-Ladies-at-their-Africa-Asia-Luminary-768x467.jpg 768w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Merck-Foundation-Chairman-and-CEO-with-African-and-Asian-First-Ladies-at-their-Africa-Asia-Luminary-600x365.jpg 600w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Merck-Foundation-Chairman-and-CEO-with-African-and-Asian-First-Ladies-at-their-Africa-Asia-Luminary.jpg 1224w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><p>As part of their&nbsp;<strong>Cancer Access Program<\/strong>, Merck Foundation has to date provided&nbsp;<strong>258 Scholarships&nbsp;<\/strong>for healthcare providers from&nbsp;<strong>34 countries<\/strong>&nbsp;as per the following:<\/p><p>Merck Foundation is establishing Multidisciplinary Oncology Care teams in many African countries by providing scholarships of One year clinical training in most of oncology sub- specialties such as; Medical Oncology, Surgical Oncology, Pediatrics Oncology, Gynecology Oncology, Breast Oncology, Haemato-Oncology, Orthopedic Oncology, Palliative Care, Pathology Oncology, Radiation Oncology, Research in Oncology, Genital Urinary oncology, Advanced Cytopathology Training, Interventional Radiology, Radiation Technician, Laboratory Technician, Oncology Nursing.<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"904\" height=\"905\" src=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Message-from-Merck-Foundation-CEO-to-mark-World-Cancer-day-2026-9.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8033\" style=\"width:1026px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Message-from-Merck-Foundation-CEO-to-mark-World-Cancer-day-2026-9.jpg 904w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Message-from-Merck-Foundation-CEO-to-mark-World-Cancer-day-2026-9-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Message-from-Merck-Foundation-CEO-to-mark-World-Cancer-day-2026-9-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Message-from-Merck-Foundation-CEO-to-mark-World-Cancer-day-2026-9-768x769.jpg 768w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Message-from-Merck-Foundation-CEO-to-mark-World-Cancer-day-2026-9-600x601.jpg 600w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Message-from-Merck-Foundation-CEO-to-mark-World-Cancer-day-2026-9-100x100.jpg 100w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 904px) 100vw, 904px\" \/><\/figure><p>Moreover, Merck Foundation provides One-year and Two-year Post Graduate Diploma and Master Degree of Cancer and Clinical Oncology, Medical Oncology and Pain Management from reputed Universities in UK like University of South Wales, University of Buckingham, Queen Mary University of London, and Cardiff University.<\/p><p>The 34 countries include Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo Brazzaville, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, S\u00e3o Tom\u00e9 and Pr\u00edncipe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.<\/p><p>According to WHO data (2022), Africa sees roughly 1.1 million new cancer cases and up to about 700,000 cancer deaths each year. Cancer mortality rates in Africa are much higher than in many other regions of the world, reflecting late diagnosis, limited access to care, and gaps in health systems. Therefore, Merck Foundation\u2019s oncology scholarships play a critically important role in strengthening cancer care capacity across the continent.<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1008\" height=\"1008\" src=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Message-from-Merck-Foundation-CEO-to-mark-World-Cancer-day-2026-2_1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8034\" style=\"width:1026px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Message-from-Merck-Foundation-CEO-to-mark-World-Cancer-day-2026-2_1.jpg 1008w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Message-from-Merck-Foundation-CEO-to-mark-World-Cancer-day-2026-2_1-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Message-from-Merck-Foundation-CEO-to-mark-World-Cancer-day-2026-2_1-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Message-from-Merck-Foundation-CEO-to-mark-World-Cancer-day-2026-2_1-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Message-from-Merck-Foundation-CEO-to-mark-World-Cancer-day-2026-2_1-600x600.jpg 600w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Message-from-Merck-Foundation-CEO-to-mark-World-Cancer-day-2026-2_1-100x100.jpg 100w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1008px) 100vw, 1008px\" \/><\/figure><p><strong>Dr. Rasha Kelej<\/strong>\u00a0further shared, \u201cNearly two-thirds of cancer cases can be successfully treated when diagnosed early, and up to one-third can be prevented by reducing key risk factors such as exposure to radiation, certain infections, and lifestyle-related causes. To raise awareness about it, we have recently launched a children storybook and its adaptive animation film \u201cRay of Hope\u201d, in partnership with\u00a0<strong>African First Ladies<\/strong>. The story deals with childhood cancer and highlights the critical importance of early detection and access to well-trained cancer care teams capable of recognizing early warning signs.\u201d<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Merck Foundation Chairman and CEO with the First Ladies of Africa and Asia during the Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative Summit 2025&nbsp; Merck Foundation Chairman and CEO together with African First Ladies recently released \u201cRay of Hope\u201d children\u2019s storybook and Animation Film for Cancer Awareness in three languages. Watch \u2018Ray of Hope\u2019 animation film here [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8027,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8026","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-activities"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v24.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Merck Foundation CEO together with African First Ladies mark \u2018World Cancer Day 2026\u2019 by building Oncology Care Capacity through 258 cancer care Scholarships across 34 countries | Rasha Kelej<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/?p=8026\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Merck Foundation CEO together with African First Ladies mark \u2018World Cancer Day 2026\u2019 by building Oncology Care Capacity through 258 cancer care Scholarships across 34 countries | Rasha Kelej\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Merck Foundation Chairman and CEO with the First Ladies of Africa and Asia during the Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative Summit 2025&nbsp; Merck Foundation Chairman and CEO together with African First Ladies recently released \u201cRay of Hope\u201d children\u2019s storybook and Animation Film for Cancer Awareness in three languages. 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