{"id":8349,"date":"2026-04-05T16:28:58","date_gmt":"2026-04-05T12:28:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/?p=8349"},"modified":"2026-04-05T16:29:07","modified_gmt":"2026-04-05T12:29:07","slug":"message-from-dr-rasha-kelej-ceo-of-merck-foundation-on-co-chairing-the-12th-merck-foundation-africa-asia-luminary-2025-with-the-gambia-first-lady","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/?p=8349","title":{"rendered":"Message from Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation on Co-Chairing the 12th Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary 2025 with The Gambia First Lady"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"699\" src=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-Chairman-and-CEO-with-Gambia-First-Lady-at-their-Africa-Asia-Luminary-1024x699.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8350\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-Chairman-and-CEO-with-Gambia-First-Lady-at-their-Africa-Asia-Luminary-1024x699.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-Chairman-and-CEO-with-Gambia-First-Lady-at-their-Africa-Asia-Luminary-300x205.jpg 300w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-Chairman-and-CEO-with-Gambia-First-Lady-at-their-Africa-Asia-Luminary-768x524.jpg 768w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-Chairman-and-CEO-with-Gambia-First-Lady-at-their-Africa-Asia-Luminary-1536x1048.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-Chairman-and-CEO-with-Gambia-First-Lady-at-their-Africa-Asia-Luminary-600x410.jpg 600w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-Chairman-and-CEO-with-Gambia-First-Lady-at-their-Africa-Asia-Luminary.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><p>I was honored to co-chair the\u00a0<strong>12<sup>th<\/sup>\u00a0Edition<\/strong>\u00a0of our annual conference,\u00a0<strong>\u201cMerck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary\u201d<\/strong>, held in partnership with the Government of The Gambia. The conference was inaugurated by\u00a0<strong>Mr. MUHAMMAD B. S. JALLOW, Vice President of the Republic of The Gambia<\/strong>, together with\u00a0<strong>Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp, Chairman of Merck Foundation Board of Trustees<\/strong>, and\u00a0<strong>co-chaired by Mrs. FATOUMATTA BAH-BARROW, The First Lady of Gambia and Ambassador of Merck Foundation More Than a Mother, and me. The First Ladies of Burundi, Central Africa, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal and S\u00e3o Tom\u00e9 and Pr\u00edncipe\u00a0<\/strong>alsojoined as the<strong>\u00a0Guests of Honor and Keynote Speakers.<\/strong><\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"672\" src=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-with-Gambia-First-Lady-at-their-Africa-Asia-Luminary-2025-4-1024x672.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8351\" style=\"width:1026px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-with-Gambia-First-Lady-at-their-Africa-Asia-Luminary-2025-4-1024x672.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-with-Gambia-First-Lady-at-their-Africa-Asia-Luminary-2025-4-300x197.jpg 300w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-with-Gambia-First-Lady-at-their-Africa-Asia-Luminary-2025-4-768x504.jpg 768w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-with-Gambia-First-Lady-at-their-Africa-Asia-Luminary-2025-4-1536x1008.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-with-Gambia-First-Lady-at-their-Africa-Asia-Luminary-2025-4-600x394.jpg 600w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-with-Gambia-First-Lady-at-their-Africa-Asia-Luminary-2025-4.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><p>During our meeting, we discussed our joint programs to break infertility stigma, support girl education and build healthcare capacity and media capacity. I am proud to share that till now we have provided\u00a0<strong>94 scholarships<\/strong>\u00a0for local healthcare providers in many critical and underserved specialties. Together we are making history by providing trainings for first specialists in the country.<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"672\" src=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-with-Gambia-First-Lady-at-their-Africa-Asia-Luminary-2025-6-1024x672.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8352\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-with-Gambia-First-Lady-at-their-Africa-Asia-Luminary-2025-6-1024x672.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-with-Gambia-First-Lady-at-their-Africa-Asia-Luminary-2025-6-300x197.jpg 300w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-with-Gambia-First-Lady-at-their-Africa-Asia-Luminary-2025-6-768x504.jpg 768w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-with-Gambia-First-Lady-at-their-Africa-Asia-Luminary-2025-6-1536x1008.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-with-Gambia-First-Lady-at-their-Africa-Asia-Luminary-2025-6-600x394.jpg 600w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-with-Gambia-First-Lady-at-their-Africa-Asia-Luminary-2025-6.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/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\u00a0<strong>keynote speeches of\u00a0First Ladies of Africa<\/strong>. Moreover, a high-level ministerial panel\u00a0discussion was also held with African Ministers to discuss the Merck Foundation African Research Summit MARS strategy to build scientific research capacity and empower women in STEM with special focus on scientific research.\u00a0<\/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-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-with-Gambia-First-Lady-at-their-Africa-Asia-Luminary-2025-7-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8353\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-with-Gambia-First-Lady-at-their-Africa-Asia-Luminary-2025-7-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-with-Gambia-First-Lady-at-their-Africa-Asia-Luminary-2025-7-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-with-Gambia-First-Lady-at-their-Africa-Asia-Luminary-2025-7-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-with-Gambia-First-Lady-at-their-Africa-Asia-Luminary-2025-7-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-with-Gambia-First-Lady-at-their-Africa-Asia-Luminary-2025-7-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-with-Gambia-First-Lady-at-their-Africa-Asia-Luminary-2025-7.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><p>On Day 2 of the conference,\u00a0<strong>Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative- MFFLI committee meeting<\/strong>\u00a0was conducted between\u00a0<strong>The First Ladies of Africa and Merck Foundation Chairman and CEO<\/strong>, where the\u00a0<strong>African First Ladies<\/strong>\u00a0shared 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>\u00a0<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>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 more than\u00a0<strong>2400 scholarships<\/strong>\u00a0for healthcare providers from\u00a0<strong>52 countries<\/strong>\u00a0in\u00a0<strong>44 critical and underserved medical specialties<\/strong>. We will continue to provide scholarships of doctors from The Gambia and beyond.<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"662\" src=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-with-Gambia-First-Lady-at-their-Africa-Asia-Luminary-2025-3-1024x662.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8354\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-with-Gambia-First-Lady-at-their-Africa-Asia-Luminary-2025-3-1024x662.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-with-Gambia-First-Lady-at-their-Africa-Asia-Luminary-2025-3-300x194.jpg 300w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-with-Gambia-First-Lady-at-their-Africa-Asia-Luminary-2025-3-768x497.jpg 768w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-with-Gambia-First-Lady-at-their-Africa-Asia-Luminary-2025-3-1536x994.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-with-Gambia-First-Lady-at-their-Africa-Asia-Luminary-2025-3-600x388.jpg 600w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-with-Gambia-First-Lady-at-their-Africa-Asia-Luminary-2025-3.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><p>Together with the office of the\u00a0<strong>First Lady of The Gambia<\/strong>, we have conducted 3 editions of\u00a0<strong>Online<\/strong>\u00a0<strong>Health Media Training<\/strong>, to emphasize on the important role of media to address these critical social and health issues and be the voice of the voiceless. A special Merck Foundation Health Media Training session was also organized for all Gambian journalists during the conference.<\/p><p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>Watch the Video of The First Lady of The Gambia &amp; Ambassador of Merck Foundation More Than a Mother during Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary 2025 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=\"H.E. First Lady of Gambia Speech @ 12th Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary 2025\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/_3jJDQWI2-E?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>We have also announced the Call for applications for their 8 important awards in\u00a0<strong>partnership<\/strong>\u00a0with\u00a0<strong>The First Lady of The Gambia\u00a0<\/strong>for Media, Musicians, Fashion Designers, Filmmakers, students, and new potential talents in these fields.<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"673\" src=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-with-Gambia-First-Lady-at-their-Africa-Asia-Luminar-5-1024x673.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8355\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-with-Gambia-First-Lady-at-their-Africa-Asia-Luminar-5-1024x673.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-with-Gambia-First-Lady-at-their-Africa-Asia-Luminar-5-300x197.jpg 300w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-with-Gambia-First-Lady-at-their-Africa-Asia-Luminar-5-768x504.jpg 768w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-with-Gambia-First-Lady-at-their-Africa-Asia-Luminar-5-1536x1009.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-with-Gambia-First-Lady-at-their-Africa-Asia-Luminar-5-600x394.jpg 600w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-with-Gambia-First-Lady-at-their-Africa-Asia-Luminar-5.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><p>Moreover, in partnership with&nbsp;<strong>The First Lady of The Gambia<\/strong>, we are launching our children\u2019s storybooks,&nbsp;<strong>\u201cMore Than a Mother\u201d, \u201cEducating Linda\u201d, \u201cJackline\u2019s Rescue\u201d, \u201cNot Who You Are\u201d, \u201cRide into the Future\u201d and \u201cSugar free Jude\u201d, and \u201cRay of Hope\u201d, \u201cMark\u2019s Pressure\u201d.<\/strong>&nbsp;The storybooks address various social and health issues like breaking infertility stigma, supporting girl education, stopping GBV, and diabetes, hypertension and cancer awareness.<\/p><p>The 12th Edition of Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary 2025 was streamed live across our social media platforms.<\/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=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-with-Gambia-First-Lady-at-their-Africa-Asia-Luminary-2025-9-1024x675.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8356\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-with-Gambia-First-Lady-at-their-Africa-Asia-Luminary-2025-9-1024x675.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-with-Gambia-First-Lady-at-their-Africa-Asia-Luminary-2025-9-300x198.jpg 300w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-with-Gambia-First-Lady-at-their-Africa-Asia-Luminary-2025-9-768x506.jpg 768w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-with-Gambia-First-Lady-at-their-Africa-Asia-Luminary-2025-9-1536x1013.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-with-Gambia-First-Lady-at-their-Africa-Asia-Luminary-2025-9-600x396.jpg 600w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-with-Gambia-First-Lady-at-their-Africa-Asia-Luminary-2025-9.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"659\" src=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-with-Gambia-First-Lady-at-their-Africa-Asia-Luminary-2025-2-1024x659.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8357\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-with-Gambia-First-Lady-at-their-Africa-Asia-Luminary-2025-2-1024x659.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-with-Gambia-First-Lady-at-their-Africa-Asia-Luminary-2025-2-300x193.jpg 300w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-with-Gambia-First-Lady-at-their-Africa-Asia-Luminary-2025-2-768x494.jpg 768w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-with-Gambia-First-Lady-at-their-Africa-Asia-Luminary-2025-2-1536x989.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-with-Gambia-First-Lady-at-their-Africa-Asia-Luminary-2025-2-600x386.jpg 600w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-Dr-Rasha-Kelej-with-Gambia-First-Lady-at-their-Africa-Asia-Luminary-2025-2.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>I was honored to co-chair the\u00a012th\u00a0Edition\u00a0of our annual conference,\u00a0\u201cMerck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary\u201d, held in partnership with the Government of The Gambia. The conference was inaugurated by\u00a0Mr. MUHAMMAD B. S. JALLOW, Vice President of the Republic of The Gambia, together with\u00a0Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp, Chairman of Merck Foundation Board of Trustees, and\u00a0co-chaired by Mrs. FATOUMATTA [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8350,"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-8349","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 Co-Chairing the 12th Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary 2025 with The Gambia First Lady | 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=8349\" \/>\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 Co-Chairing the 12th Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary 2025 with The Gambia First Lady | Rasha Kelej\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"I was honored to co-chair the\u00a012th\u00a0Edition\u00a0of our annual conference,\u00a0\u201cMerck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary\u201d, held in partnership with the Government of The Gambia. The conference was inaugurated by\u00a0Mr. MUHAMMAD B. S. 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