{"id":8231,"date":"2026-04-05T13:05:52","date_gmt":"2026-04-05T09:05:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/?p=8231"},"modified":"2026-04-05T13:11:35","modified_gmt":"2026-04-05T09:11:35","slug":"message-from-dr-rasha-kelej-ceo-of-merck-foundation-on-meeting-with-the-first-lady-of-burundi-during-the-12th-edition-of-merck-foundation-africa-asia-luminary-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/?p=8231","title":{"rendered":"Message from Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation on Meeting with The First Lady of Burundi during the 12th Edition of Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-and-First-Lady-of-Burundi-during-the-12th-Edition-of-Merck-Foundation-Africa-Asia-Luminary-in-The-Gambia-1-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8232\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-and-First-Lady-of-Burundi-during-the-12th-Edition-of-Merck-Foundation-Africa-Asia-Luminary-in-The-Gambia-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-and-First-Lady-of-Burundi-during-the-12th-Edition-of-Merck-Foundation-Africa-Asia-Luminary-in-The-Gambia-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-and-First-Lady-of-Burundi-during-the-12th-Edition-of-Merck-Foundation-Africa-Asia-Luminary-in-The-Gambia-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-and-First-Lady-of-Burundi-during-the-12th-Edition-of-Merck-Foundation-Africa-Asia-Luminary-in-The-Gambia-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-and-First-Lady-of-Burundi-during-the-12th-Edition-of-Merck-Foundation-Africa-Asia-Luminary-in-The-Gambia-1-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-and-First-Lady-of-Burundi-during-the-12th-Edition-of-Merck-Foundation-Africa-Asia-Luminary-in-The-Gambia-1.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em><strong>Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation &amp; President of More Than a Mother\u00a0and\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><strong>H.E. Madam ANGELINE NDAYISHIMIYE, First Lady of the Republic of Burundi<\/strong><em><strong>\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a012<sup>th<\/sup>\u00a0Edition\u00a0of\u00a0\u201cMerck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary<\/strong><\/em><\/p><p>Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany, recently conducted the\u00a0<strong>12<sup>th<\/sup>\u00a0Edition<\/strong>\u00a0of their annual conference,\u00a0<strong>\u201cMerck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary\u201d<\/strong>, in partnership with the\u00a0<strong>Government of The Gambia\u00a0<\/strong>in\u00a0<strong>Banjul, The Gambia<\/strong>. The conference was co-chaired by\u00a0<strong>H.E. Mrs. FATOUMATTA BAH-BARROW, First Lady of The Gambia and Ambassador of Merck Foundation More Than a Mother and Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation and President of More Than a Mother.\u00a0H.E. Madam ANGELINE NDAYISHIMIYE, First Lady of the Republic of Burundi,\u00a0<\/strong>and\u00a0<strong>Ambassador of Merck Foundation \u201cMore Than a Mother<\/strong>\u201d along with\u00a0<a><strong>The First Ladies of Central Africa, Liberia, Nigeria, S\u00e3o Tom\u00e9 &amp; Pr\u00edncipe and Senegal\u00a0<\/strong>joined as the\u00a0<strong>Guests of Honor and Keynote speakers.<\/strong><\/a><\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-and-First-Lady-of-Burundi-during-the-12th-Edition-of-Merck-Foundation-Africa-Asia-Luminary-in-The-Gambia-12-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8233\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-and-First-Lady-of-Burundi-during-the-12th-Edition-of-Merck-Foundation-Africa-Asia-Luminary-in-The-Gambia-12-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-and-First-Lady-of-Burundi-during-the-12th-Edition-of-Merck-Foundation-Africa-Asia-Luminary-in-The-Gambia-12-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-and-First-Lady-of-Burundi-during-the-12th-Edition-of-Merck-Foundation-Africa-Asia-Luminary-in-The-Gambia-12-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-and-First-Lady-of-Burundi-during-the-12th-Edition-of-Merck-Foundation-Africa-Asia-Luminary-in-The-Gambia-12-1536x1023.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-and-First-Lady-of-Burundi-during-the-12th-Edition-of-Merck-Foundation-Africa-Asia-Luminary-in-The-Gambia-12-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-and-First-Lady-of-Burundi-during-the-12th-Edition-of-Merck-Foundation-Africa-Asia-Luminary-in-The-Gambia-12.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><p>It was such a pleasure meeting my dear sister<strong>, H.E. Madam ANGELINE NDAYISHIMIYE, First Lady of Burundi &amp; Ambassador of Merck Foundation \u201cMore Than a Mother\u201d<\/strong>\u00a0during the 12<sup>th<\/sup>\u00a0Edition of our Luminary in The Gambia. Our partnership journey began in 2020, and since then, we have achieved a lot. I am happy to share that we have provided till today\u00a0<strong>55 scholarships<\/strong>\u00a0for local Burundian doctors, in specialties such as Oncology, Embryology, Fertility, Diabetes, Sexual and Reproductive Care, Acute Medicine, Respiratory Medicine, Endocrinology, and Preventative Cardiovascular Medicine and more. We are looking forward to enrolling more doctors in many more specialties and together, we will continue to advance the healthcare capacity in the country.<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-and-First-Lady-of-Burundi-during-the-12th-Edition-of-Merck-Foundation-Africa-Asia-Luminary-in-The-Gambia-5-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8234\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-and-First-Lady-of-Burundi-during-the-12th-Edition-of-Merck-Foundation-Africa-Asia-Luminary-in-The-Gambia-5-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-and-First-Lady-of-Burundi-during-the-12th-Edition-of-Merck-Foundation-Africa-Asia-Luminary-in-The-Gambia-5-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-and-First-Lady-of-Burundi-during-the-12th-Edition-of-Merck-Foundation-Africa-Asia-Luminary-in-The-Gambia-5-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-and-First-Lady-of-Burundi-during-the-12th-Edition-of-Merck-Foundation-Africa-Asia-Luminary-in-The-Gambia-5-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-and-First-Lady-of-Burundi-during-the-12th-Edition-of-Merck-Foundation-Africa-Asia-Luminary-in-The-Gambia-5-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-and-First-Lady-of-Burundi-during-the-12th-Edition-of-Merck-Foundation-Africa-Asia-Luminary-in-The-Gambia-5.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><p>We have also launched together many initiatives to address a wide range of social and health issues in Burundi and beyond. We are also working together to support girl education by providing annual scholarships to&nbsp;<strong>40 best-performing but underprivileged girls<\/strong>, as a part of&nbsp;<strong>Educating Linda<\/strong>&nbsp;program. This is extremely important as Education is the way forward to empower our girls.<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-and-First-Lady-of-Burundi-during-the-12th-Edition-of-Merck-Foundation-Africa-Asia-Luminary-in-The-Gambia-14-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8235\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-and-First-Lady-of-Burundi-during-the-12th-Edition-of-Merck-Foundation-Africa-Asia-Luminary-in-The-Gambia-14-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-and-First-Lady-of-Burundi-during-the-12th-Edition-of-Merck-Foundation-Africa-Asia-Luminary-in-The-Gambia-14-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-and-First-Lady-of-Burundi-during-the-12th-Edition-of-Merck-Foundation-Africa-Asia-Luminary-in-The-Gambia-14-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-and-First-Lady-of-Burundi-during-the-12th-Edition-of-Merck-Foundation-Africa-Asia-Luminary-in-The-Gambia-14-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-and-First-Lady-of-Burundi-during-the-12th-Edition-of-Merck-Foundation-Africa-Asia-Luminary-in-The-Gambia-14-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-and-First-Lady-of-Burundi-during-the-12th-Edition-of-Merck-Foundation-Africa-Asia-Luminary-in-The-Gambia-14.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-and-First-Lady-of-Burundi-during-the-12th-Edition-of-Merck-Foundation-Africa-Asia-Luminary-in-The-Gambia-3-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8236\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-and-First-Lady-of-Burundi-during-the-12th-Edition-of-Merck-Foundation-Africa-Asia-Luminary-in-The-Gambia-3-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-and-First-Lady-of-Burundi-during-the-12th-Edition-of-Merck-Foundation-Africa-Asia-Luminary-in-The-Gambia-3-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-and-First-Lady-of-Burundi-during-the-12th-Edition-of-Merck-Foundation-Africa-Asia-Luminary-in-The-Gambia-3-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-and-First-Lady-of-Burundi-during-the-12th-Edition-of-Merck-Foundation-Africa-Asia-Luminary-in-The-Gambia-3-1536x1023.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-and-First-Lady-of-Burundi-during-the-12th-Edition-of-Merck-Foundation-Africa-Asia-Luminary-in-The-Gambia-3-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-and-First-Lady-of-Burundi-during-the-12th-Edition-of-Merck-Foundation-Africa-Asia-Luminary-in-The-Gambia-3.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>Watch the Speech of The First Lady of Burundi &amp; Ambassador of Merck Foundation More Than a Mother during the Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary 2025 here:\u00a0<\/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=\"H.E. First Lady of Burundi Speech @ 12th Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary 2025\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/nGOU6OVQF4o?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 class=\"has-text-align-center\">Watch the video of&nbsp;<strong>Merck Foundation Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej (Ret.), CEO of Merck Foundation receiving Burundi First Lady, H.E. Madam ANGELINE NDAYISHIMIYE:<\/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=\"Burundi First Lady @ Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary in Banjul, The Gambia, 2025\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/fjlCx_AWcRc?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>On Day 1 of the conference, the Plenary Session of the\u00a0<strong>Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary 2025<\/strong>\u00a0took place, featuring keynote speeches of\u00a0<strong>First Ladies of Africa.<\/strong>\u00a0Moreover, a high-level ministerial paneldiscussion was also held with African Ministers.<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"684\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-and-First-Lady-of-Burundi-during-the-12th-Edition-of-Merck-Foundation-Africa-Asia-Luminary-in-The-Gambia-6-684x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8237\" style=\"width:1026px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-and-First-Lady-of-Burundi-during-the-12th-Edition-of-Merck-Foundation-Africa-Asia-Luminary-in-The-Gambia-6-684x1024.jpg 684w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-and-First-Lady-of-Burundi-during-the-12th-Edition-of-Merck-Foundation-Africa-Asia-Luminary-in-The-Gambia-6-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-and-First-Lady-of-Burundi-during-the-12th-Edition-of-Merck-Foundation-Africa-Asia-Luminary-in-The-Gambia-6-768x1151.jpg 768w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-and-First-Lady-of-Burundi-during-the-12th-Edition-of-Merck-Foundation-Africa-Asia-Luminary-in-The-Gambia-6-600x899.jpg 600w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-and-First-Lady-of-Burundi-during-the-12th-Edition-of-Merck-Foundation-Africa-Asia-Luminary-in-The-Gambia-6.jpg 801w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 684px) 100vw, 684px\" \/><\/figure><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-and-First-Lady-of-Burundi-during-the-12th-Edition-of-Merck-Foundation-Africa-Asia-Luminary-in-The-Gambia-7-683x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8238\" style=\"width:1026px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-and-First-Lady-of-Burundi-during-the-12th-Edition-of-Merck-Foundation-Africa-Asia-Luminary-in-The-Gambia-7-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-and-First-Lady-of-Burundi-during-the-12th-Edition-of-Merck-Foundation-Africa-Asia-Luminary-in-The-Gambia-7-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-and-First-Lady-of-Burundi-during-the-12th-Edition-of-Merck-Foundation-Africa-Asia-Luminary-in-The-Gambia-7-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-and-First-Lady-of-Burundi-during-the-12th-Edition-of-Merck-Foundation-Africa-Asia-Luminary-in-The-Gambia-7-600x900.jpg 600w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-and-First-Lady-of-Burundi-during-the-12th-Edition-of-Merck-Foundation-Africa-Asia-Luminary-in-The-Gambia-7.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px\" \/><\/figure><p class=\"has-text-align-center\">On Day 2 of the conference,&nbsp;<strong>Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative- MFFLI committee meeting<\/strong>&nbsp;was conducted between&nbsp;<strong>The First Ladies of Africa and Merck Foundation Chairman and CEO<\/strong>, where&nbsp;<strong>the African First Ladies<\/strong>&nbsp;shared the impact report of Merck Foundation programs in their respective countries, and future strategy was discussed.<\/p><p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>Watch the video of MFFLI<\/strong>&nbsp;<strong>committee meeting:<\/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=\"Dr. Rasha Kelej @ Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative (MFFLI) Committee - 2025\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/sc2XFyU3s10?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>Together with\u00a0<strong>Burundi First Lady,\u00a0<\/strong>Merck Foundation has provided\u00a0<strong>55 scholarships<\/strong>\u00a0for local doctors in Burundi in many critical and underserved specialties.<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-and-First-Lady-of-Burundi-during-the-12th-Edition-of-Merck-Foundation-Africa-Asia-Luminary-in-The-Gambia-11-683x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8239\" style=\"width:1026px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-and-First-Lady-of-Burundi-during-the-12th-Edition-of-Merck-Foundation-Africa-Asia-Luminary-in-The-Gambia-11-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-and-First-Lady-of-Burundi-during-the-12th-Edition-of-Merck-Foundation-Africa-Asia-Luminary-in-The-Gambia-11-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-and-First-Lady-of-Burundi-during-the-12th-Edition-of-Merck-Foundation-Africa-Asia-Luminary-in-The-Gambia-11-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-and-First-Lady-of-Burundi-during-the-12th-Edition-of-Merck-Foundation-Africa-Asia-Luminary-in-The-Gambia-11-600x900.jpg 600w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-and-First-Lady-of-Burundi-during-the-12th-Edition-of-Merck-Foundation-Africa-Asia-Luminary-in-The-Gambia-11.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px\" \/><\/figure><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"684\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-and-First-Lady-of-Burundi-during-the-12th-Edition-of-Merck-Foundation-Africa-Asia-Luminary-in-The-Gambia-8-684x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8240\" style=\"width:1026px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-and-First-Lady-of-Burundi-during-the-12th-Edition-of-Merck-Foundation-Africa-Asia-Luminary-in-The-Gambia-8-684x1024.jpg 684w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-and-First-Lady-of-Burundi-during-the-12th-Edition-of-Merck-Foundation-Africa-Asia-Luminary-in-The-Gambia-8-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-and-First-Lady-of-Burundi-during-the-12th-Edition-of-Merck-Foundation-Africa-Asia-Luminary-in-The-Gambia-8-768x1151.jpg 768w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-and-First-Lady-of-Burundi-during-the-12th-Edition-of-Merck-Foundation-Africa-Asia-Luminary-in-The-Gambia-8-600x899.jpg 600w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-and-First-Lady-of-Burundi-during-the-12th-Edition-of-Merck-Foundation-Africa-Asia-Luminary-in-The-Gambia-8.jpg 801w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 684px) 100vw, 684px\" \/><\/figure><p>Merck Foundation has always believed in the importance of building healthcare capacity and has been working for it since 2012. We have so far provided&nbsp;<strong>2500 scholarships for healthcare providers from 52 countries in 44 underserved medical specialties<\/strong>. We will continue to provide scholarships for doctors from Burundi and beyond.<\/p><p>Together with&nbsp;<strong>The First Lady of Burundi&nbsp;<\/strong>we havelaunched nine children\u2019s storybooks;&nbsp;<strong>\u201cMore Than a Mother\u201d, \u2018Educating FIFI\u201d, \u201cMake the Right Choice\u201d, \u201cJackline\u2019s Rescue\u201d, \u201cNot Who You Are\u201d, \u201cRay of Hope\u201d, \u201cRide into the Future\u201d and \u201cSugar free Jude\u201d&nbsp;<\/strong>and&nbsp;<strong>\u201cMark\u2019s Pressure<\/strong>\u201d, to raise awareness about various social issues like breaking infertility stigma, supporting girl education, ending child marriage, ending GBV and also health issues like diabetes, hypertension and cancer. Thousands of copies of these storybooks have been distributed to school students of Burundi.&nbsp;<\/p><p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/merck-foundation.com\/Digital-Library\/children-storybooks\">Read Storybooks<\/a><\/strong><\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"707\" src=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/MF-Awards-2026-1024x707.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8241\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/MF-Awards-2026-1024x707.png 1024w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/MF-Awards-2026-300x207.png 300w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/MF-Awards-2026-768x530.png 768w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/MF-Awards-2026-1536x1060.png 1536w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/MF-Awards-2026-600x414.png 600w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/MF-Awards-2026.png 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><p>The 12th Edition of Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary 2025 was streamed live across all our social media platforms, enabling thousands of participants from over 70 countries to join our discussions, amplify our impact, and celebrate the spirit of partnership and progress.<\/p><p>Kind Regards,<br><strong>Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej (Ret.)<\/strong><br>CEO of Merck Foundation<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-and-First-Lady-of-Burundi-during-the-12th-Edition-of-Merck-Foundation-Africa-Asia-Luminary-in-The-Gambia-13-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8242\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-and-First-Lady-of-Burundi-during-the-12th-Edition-of-Merck-Foundation-Africa-Asia-Luminary-in-The-Gambia-13-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-and-First-Lady-of-Burundi-during-the-12th-Edition-of-Merck-Foundation-Africa-Asia-Luminary-in-The-Gambia-13-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-and-First-Lady-of-Burundi-during-the-12th-Edition-of-Merck-Foundation-Africa-Asia-Luminary-in-The-Gambia-13-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-and-First-Lady-of-Burundi-during-the-12th-Edition-of-Merck-Foundation-Africa-Asia-Luminary-in-The-Gambia-13-1536x1023.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-and-First-Lady-of-Burundi-during-the-12th-Edition-of-Merck-Foundation-Africa-Asia-Luminary-in-The-Gambia-13-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-and-First-Lady-of-Burundi-during-the-12th-Edition-of-Merck-Foundation-Africa-Asia-Luminary-in-The-Gambia-13.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-and-First-Lady-of-Burundi-during-the-12th-Edition-of-Merck-Foundation-Africa-Asia-Luminary-in-The-Gambia-21-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8243\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-and-First-Lady-of-Burundi-during-the-12th-Edition-of-Merck-Foundation-Africa-Asia-Luminary-in-The-Gambia-21-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-and-First-Lady-of-Burundi-during-the-12th-Edition-of-Merck-Foundation-Africa-Asia-Luminary-in-The-Gambia-21-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-and-First-Lady-of-Burundi-during-the-12th-Edition-of-Merck-Foundation-Africa-Asia-Luminary-in-The-Gambia-21-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-and-First-Lady-of-Burundi-during-the-12th-Edition-of-Merck-Foundation-Africa-Asia-Luminary-in-The-Gambia-21-1536x1023.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-and-First-Lady-of-Burundi-during-the-12th-Edition-of-Merck-Foundation-Africa-Asia-Luminary-in-The-Gambia-21-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-and-First-Lady-of-Burundi-during-the-12th-Edition-of-Merck-Foundation-Africa-Asia-Luminary-in-The-Gambia-21.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-and-First-Lady-of-Burundi-during-the-12th-Edition-of-Merck-Foundation-Africa-Asia-Luminary-in-The-Gambia-9-683x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8244\" style=\"width:1026px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-and-First-Lady-of-Burundi-during-the-12th-Edition-of-Merck-Foundation-Africa-Asia-Luminary-in-The-Gambia-9-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-and-First-Lady-of-Burundi-during-the-12th-Edition-of-Merck-Foundation-Africa-Asia-Luminary-in-The-Gambia-9-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-and-First-Lady-of-Burundi-during-the-12th-Edition-of-Merck-Foundation-Africa-Asia-Luminary-in-The-Gambia-9-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-and-First-Lady-of-Burundi-during-the-12th-Edition-of-Merck-Foundation-Africa-Asia-Luminary-in-The-Gambia-9-600x900.jpg 600w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-and-First-Lady-of-Burundi-during-the-12th-Edition-of-Merck-Foundation-Africa-Asia-Luminary-in-The-Gambia-9.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px\" \/><\/figure><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-and-First-Lady-of-Burundi-during-the-12th-Edition-of-Merck-Foundation-Africa-Asia-Luminary-in-The-Gambia-10-683x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8245\" style=\"width:1026px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-and-First-Lady-of-Burundi-during-the-12th-Edition-of-Merck-Foundation-Africa-Asia-Luminary-in-The-Gambia-10-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-and-First-Lady-of-Burundi-during-the-12th-Edition-of-Merck-Foundation-Africa-Asia-Luminary-in-The-Gambia-10-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-and-First-Lady-of-Burundi-during-the-12th-Edition-of-Merck-Foundation-Africa-Asia-Luminary-in-The-Gambia-10-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-and-First-Lady-of-Burundi-during-the-12th-Edition-of-Merck-Foundation-Africa-Asia-Luminary-in-The-Gambia-10-600x900.jpg 600w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-and-First-Lady-of-Burundi-during-the-12th-Edition-of-Merck-Foundation-Africa-Asia-Luminary-in-The-Gambia-10.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px\" \/><\/figure>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation &amp; President of More Than a Mother\u00a0and\u00a0H.E. Madam ANGELINE NDAYISHIMIYE, First Lady of the Republic of Burundi\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a012th\u00a0Edition\u00a0of\u00a0\u201cMerck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany, recently conducted the\u00a012th\u00a0Edition\u00a0of their annual conference,\u00a0\u201cMerck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary\u201d, in partnership with the\u00a0Government of The Gambia\u00a0in\u00a0Banjul, The [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8232,"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":[24],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8231","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-message"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v24.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Message from Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation on Meeting with The First Lady of Burundi during the 12th Edition of Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary 2025 | 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=8231\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Message from Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation on Meeting with The First Lady of Burundi during the 12th Edition of Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary 2025 | Rasha Kelej\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation &amp; President of More Than a Mother\u00a0and\u00a0H.E. 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