{"id":8057,"date":"2026-03-29T14:03:19","date_gmt":"2026-03-29T10:03:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/?p=8057"},"modified":"2026-03-29T14:04:28","modified_gmt":"2026-03-29T10:04:28","slug":"dr-rasha-kelej-named-among-the-100-most-impactful-voices-2026-by-abcd-africa-after-being-recognized-among-the-100-most-influential-africans-by-new-african-magazine-and-100-most-infl","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/?p=8057","title":{"rendered":"Dr. Rasha Kelej Named Among the \u201c100 Most Impactful Voices 2026\u201d by ABCD Africa After Being Recognized Among the 100 Most Influential Africans by New African Magazine and 100 Most Influential African Women by Avance Media"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/figure>

Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of <\/strong>Merck Foundation<\/strong><\/a>, has been recognized among the \u201c100 Most Impactful Voices 2026\u201d by ABCD Africa<\/strong>, a prestigious recognition celebrating influential women of African descent who are using their platforms to inspire change, amplify important social conversations, and drive meaningful impact across communities. The list features prominent women leaders and changemakers from 54 African countries and also includes the President of Tanzania. The list came out on the occasion of International Women\u2019s Day 2026.<\/p>

This latest recognition adds to a series of international accolades received by Dr. Rasha Kelej for her leadership and impactful social initiatives. She was recently named among the \u201c100 Most Influential Africans 2025\u201d<\/strong> by New African Magazine and has also been recognized among the \u201c100 Most Influential African Women\u201d<\/strong> by Avance Media for the seventh consecutive year<\/strong>, alongside Africa\u2019s prominent leaders including Presidents, First Ladies, and Prime Ministers. These recognitions highlight her unwavering commitment to women\u2019s empowerment, girls\u2019 education, and improving access to quality and equitable healthcare across Africa.<\/strong><\/p>

\"\"<\/figure>

Expressing her gratitude,\u00a0Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej (Ret.), CEO of Merck Foundation<\/strong>\u00a0said, \u201cI am deeply honoured to receive this recognition and to be included in the\u00a0\u2018100 Most Impactful Voices 2026\u2019<\/strong>\u00a0list. I sincerely thank\u00a0ABCD Africa<\/strong>\u00a0for acknowledging my work over the past 14 years to build healthcare capacity, transform the patient care landscape, break infertility stigma, empower women, and support girl education in Africa and beyond. This recognition is truly very special to me, and it inspires me to continue my efforts to make a meaningful difference in the lives of people.<\/p>

\"\"<\/figure>

I also congratulate all the deserving women who have been recognized on this list. Together, we will continue to use our voices to inspire positive change and create a better future for our communities.\u201d<\/p>

Under Dr. Kelej\u2019s leadership, Merck Foundation has transformed the patient care landscape and built healthcare capacity across Africa and other developing regions.<\/p>

\"\"<\/figure>

\u201cWe have provided over\u00a02500 scholarships<\/strong>\u00a0for healthcare providers from more than\u00a052 countries in 44 critical and underserved medical specialties<\/strong>, helping to improve access to quality and equitable healthcare,\u201d shared\u00a0Dr. Kelej.<\/strong><\/p>

\"\"<\/figure>

Dr. Rasha Kelej<\/strong> is also the creator of the \u201cMerck Foundation More Than a Mother\u201d campaign, a pioneering movement that aims to empower infertile and childless women through access to information, education, health and change of mindset. Dr. Kelej works closely with more than 33 African and Asian First Ladies who are the Ambassadors of \u201cMerck Foundation More Than a Mother\u201d<\/strong> to lead Merck Foundation programs in their countries. \u201cI really enjoy working with dear sisters, the First Ladies of Africa and Asia, we are not just partners, we are more than friends, I enjoy our sisterhood and respect it,\u201d Dr. Kelej<\/strong> emphasized.<\/p>

\"\"<\/figure>

Moreover,\u00a0Dr. Kelej<\/strong>\u00a0is a strong advocate for education as one of the most critical areas of women\u2019s empowerment. Therefore, in partnership with African First Ladies, Merck Foundation has provided, year to date, more than\u00a01200 annual scholarships to high-performing and underprivileged African schoolgirls from 19 countries<\/strong>, enabling them to complete their studies and reach their potential. The program is actively running across several African countries, including Botswana, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria, S\u00e3o Tom\u00e9 and Pr\u00edncipe, Tanzania, Togo, Zambia, Zimbabwe and others.<\/p>

\"\"<\/figure>

Dr. Rasha Kelej<\/strong>\u00a0has established the \u201cArt and Fashion with Purpose\u201d community to address critical health and social issues, including breaking infertility stigma, supporting girl education, ending female genital mutilation and child marriage, stopping gender-based violence, and raising awareness about diabetes, hypertension, and cancer. She has launched several community awareness programs including Health Media Trainings, Songs, Children Storybooks, Animation Films, Awards for best Media, Song, Film and Fashion design, and also a Pan-African TV program \u201cOur Africa\u201d.<\/p>

\"\"<\/figure>

Overview of Merck Foundation\u2019s initiatives and impact under the leadership of Dr. Rasha Kelej:<\/u><\/strong><\/p>

Merck Foundation<\/strong> is transforming the Patient care landscape and making history together with their partners in Africa, Asia, and beyond, through:<\/p>

  • 2500+ Scholarships provided by Merck Foundation for healthcare providers from 52 Countries in 44 critical and underserved medical specialties.<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>
    \"\"<\/figure>

    Merck Foundation is also creating a culture shift and breaking the silence about a wide range of social and health issues in Africa and underserved communities through:<\/p>

    • 4000+ Media Representatives\u00a0<\/strong>from more than\u00a042 countries<\/strong>\u00a0trained by Merck Foundation to better raise awareness about different social and health issues<\/li>\n\n
    • 8 Different Awards<\/strong>\u00a0launched annually for best Media coverage, Song, Films, and Fashion.<\/li>\n\n
    • Around\u00a030 songs<\/strong>\u00a0to address health and social issues, by local singers across Africa in English, French, Portuguese, and local languages.<\/li>\n\n
    • 9 Children\u2019s Storybooks<\/strong>\u00a0in four languages – English, French, Portuguese, and Swahili<\/li>\n\n
    • 6 Awareness Animation Films<\/strong>\u00a0in five languages – English, French, Portuguese, Spanish and Swahili to raise awareness about breaking infertility stigma, supporting girl education and prevention and early detection of Diabetes, Hypertension & Cancer.<\/li>\n\n
    • Pan African TV Program “Our Africa by Merck Foundation\u201d<\/strong>\u00a0addressing Social and Health Issues in Africa through \u201cFashion and ART with Purpose\u201d Community.<\/li>\n\n
    • 1200+ Scholarships provided annually to high performing but under-privileged African schoolgirls<\/strong>\u00a0from\u00a019 countries,\u00a0<\/strong>to help them to complete their studies and empower them to reach their full potential.<\/li>\n\n
    • 15 Social Media Channels<\/strong>\u00a0with more than\u00a08.5 Million Followers.<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation, has been recognized among the \u201c100 Most Impactful Voices 2026\u201d by ABCD Africa, a prestigious recognition celebrating influential women of African descent who are using their platforms to inspire change, amplify important social conversations, and drive meaningful impact across communities. The list features prominent women leaders and changemakers from 54 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8058,"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-8057","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-activities"],"yoast_head":"\nDr. Rasha Kelej Named Among the \u201c100 Most Impactful Voices 2026\u201d by ABCD Africa After Being Recognized Among the 100 Most Influential Africans by New African Magazine and 100 Most Influential African Women by Avance Media | 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=8057\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Dr. Rasha Kelej Named Among the \u201c100 Most Impactful Voices 2026\u201d by ABCD Africa After Being Recognized Among the 100 Most Influential Africans by New African Magazine and 100 Most Influential African Women by Avance Media | Rasha Kelej\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation, has been recognized among the \u201c100 Most Impactful Voices 2026\u201d by ABCD Africa, a prestigious recognition celebrating influential women of African descent who are using their platforms to inspire change, amplify important social conversations, and drive meaningful impact across communities. 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