{"id":8988,"date":"2026-04-09T16:45:18","date_gmt":"2026-04-09T12:45:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/?p=8988"},"modified":"2026-04-09T17:02:28","modified_gmt":"2026-04-09T13:02:28","slug":"message-from-ceo-of-merck-foundation-senator-dr-rasha-kelej-on-marking-world-diabetes-day-2024-with-the-first-ladies-of-africa-by-providing-830-scholarships-in-diabetes-endocrinology-preventa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/?p=8988","title":{"rendered":"Message from CEO of Merck Foundation, Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej on marking &#8220;World Diabetes Day 2024&#8221; with the First Ladies of Africa by providing 830 Scholarships in Diabetes, Endocrinology, Preventative Cardiovascular for doctors from 52 countries"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"785\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/11th-Edition-of-Merck-Foundation-Africa-Asia-Luminary-2024-21.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8989\" style=\"width:1026px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/11th-Edition-of-Merck-Foundation-Africa-Asia-Luminary-2024-21.jpg 785w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/11th-Edition-of-Merck-Foundation-Africa-Asia-Luminary-2024-21-300x153.jpg 300w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/11th-Edition-of-Merck-Foundation-Africa-Asia-Luminary-2024-21-768x391.jpg 768w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/11th-Edition-of-Merck-Foundation-Africa-Asia-Luminary-2024-21-600x306.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 785px) 100vw, 785px\" \/><\/figure><p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong><em>Senator Dr Rasha Kelej, Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp together with the African First Ladies.<\/em><\/strong><\/p><p>At Merck Foundation, we mark\u00a0<strong>&#8216;World Diabetes Day&#8217;\u00a0<\/strong>through our effortsevery day by providing scholarships for young doctors to transform the patient care landscape in the fields of Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Hypertension- conditions that are closely linked, and by raising awareness in communities about leading a healthy lifestyle, prevention early detection and management of these conditions.<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/342-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8990\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/342-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/342-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/342-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/342-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/342-600x600.jpg 600w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/342-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/342.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><p>I am very proud to share together with our\u00a0<strong>Ambassadors, the First Ladies of Africa<\/strong>, and partners, we have till date we have provided\u00a0<strong>830 scholarships\u00a0to doctors from 52 countries<\/strong>\u00a0of One-year PG Diploma and Two-year Master degree in\u00a0<em><strong>Diabetes, Hypertension, Preventative Cardiovascular, Cardiology, Endocrinology and Obesity &amp; Weight Management,<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0and also a special 3-month Diabetes Mastercourse in English, French, Portuguese and Spanish.<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/11th-Edition-of-Merck-Foundation-Africa-Asia-Luminary-2024-31.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8991\" style=\"width:1026px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/11th-Edition-of-Merck-Foundation-Africa-Asia-Luminary-2024-31.jpg 600w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/11th-Edition-of-Merck-Foundation-Africa-Asia-Luminary-2024-31-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/figure><p>Merck Foundation scholarships are making a substantial impact on expanding access to diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular care. These scholarships are provided to young local doctors not only in capital cities but also in regions beyond, helping to build a strong network of experts and ensuring that specialized care reaches more communities.\u00a0After graduation, these doctors can establish diabetes clinics in their Health Centers or Hospitals. Many diabetes clinics have been established since the start of this program. I take immense pride in this significant achievement.<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/11th-Edition-of-Merck-Foundation-Africa-Asia-Luminary-2024-31-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8992\" style=\"width:1026px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/11th-Edition-of-Merck-Foundation-Africa-Asia-Luminary-2024-31-1.jpg 600w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/11th-Edition-of-Merck-Foundation-Africa-Asia-Luminary-2024-31-1-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/figure><p>Merck Foundation has overall provided more than\u00a0<strong>2080<\/strong>\u00a0<strong>scholarships<\/strong>\u00a0to doctors from\u00a0<strong>52 countries in 44 critical and underserved medical specialties.<\/strong>\u00a0Therefore, as a part of their\u00a0<strong>Community Awareness Program<\/strong>, Merck Foundation has launched various initiatives aimed at raising awareness and promoting prevention about Diabetes and Hypertension.\u00a0In partnership with African First Ladies,\u00a0<strong>Merck Foundation<\/strong>\u00a0has released children\u2019s storybooks and adapted\u00a0<strong>Animation Films<\/strong>\u00a0<strong>\u201cMark\u2019s Pressure\u201d<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<strong>\u201cSugar Free Jude\u201d<\/strong>.<\/p><p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>Watch the\u00a0\u201cMark\u2019s Pressure\u201d\u00a0Animation movie 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=\"Mark&#039;s Pressure-Merck Foundation Animation film promoting early detection&amp;prevention of Hypertension\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/zJylVgGbvtA?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\"><strong>Watch the\u00a0\u201cSugar Free Jude\u201d\u00a0Animation 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=\"\u201cSugar Free Jude\u201d - life is sweeter without sugar - Merck Foundation Animation Film\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/iefwLSbOGT4?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>I am thrilled to share&nbsp;<strong>&#8216;Mark\u2019s Pressure&#8217;<\/strong>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<strong>&#8216;Sugar Free Jude&#8217;<\/strong>\u2014 the first Animation Films in Africa that are aimed at raising awareness on hypertension, diabetes, and promoting a healthy lifestyle among children and youth across the continent and beyond. These films are adaptations of our children\u2019s storybooks, designed to inspire communities to reduce sugar, limit salt intake, stay active, eat healthily, and avoid smoking.&nbsp;&nbsp;These animated films are Merck Foundation\u2019s special contribution and gifts to our communities and partners in honor of World Diabetes Day. I want to remind everyone that good health is our most valuable asset!<\/p><p>We have<strong>&nbsp;<\/strong>also released three Songs in three languages named&nbsp;<strong>\u2018NO More Diabetes, Sugar Free\u2019<\/strong>&nbsp;in English,&nbsp;<strong>\u2018Dites non au Diab\u00e8te\u2019<\/strong>&nbsp;in French and&nbsp;<strong>\u2018Chega de Diabete\u2019<\/strong>&nbsp;in Portuguese. And has also released the remix version in&nbsp;the three languages.<\/p><p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>Link to the remix song 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=\"Merck Foundation &#039;No More Diabetes, Sugar Free&#039; song - Remix of English, French &amp; Portuguese\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/1Witk3k9ykE?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\u2019s pan-African\u00a0<em><strong>TV program \u201cOur Africa\u201d<\/strong><\/em>, that is conceptualized, produced, directed, and co-hosted by me features African Fashion Designers, Singers, and prominent experts from various domains with the aim to raise awareness about social and health issues, and has episodes dedicated to raise awareness about Diabetes and Promoting Healthy Lifestyle.<\/p><p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>Watch the Episode about\u00a0Diabetes Awareness\u00a0here:<\/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=\"&#039;Our Africa by Merck Foundation&#039; TV Program, Ep.1: Diabetes Awareness\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/fz1S1Dlugkc?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\"><strong>Watch the Episode about\u00a0Promoting Healthy Lifestyle\u00a0here:<\/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=\"&#039;Our Africa by Merck Foundation&#039; TV Program, Ep.4: Promoting Healthy Lifestyle\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Ok6_B8EKNks?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>Additionally,&nbsp;<strong>Merck Foundation<\/strong>&nbsp;together with&nbsp;<strong>African First Ladies<\/strong>, annually launches Awards for Media, Fashion Designers, Filmmakers, Musicians, Singers, and emerging talents from these fields to&nbsp;<strong>Promote a healthy lifestyle and raise awareness about prevention and early detection of Diabetes and Hypertension, see&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/merck-foundation.com\/Upcoming-Programs-&amp;-Call-For-Applications\">here<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p><p><strong>Kind Regards,<br>Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej,<br>CEO of Merck Foundation<br>One of the 100 Most Influential African Women (2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 &amp; 2023)<\/strong><\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"906\" src=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Senator-Dr-rasha-Kelej-with-her-designs-during-the-shoot-of-OUR-Africa-TV-Program-11.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8993\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Senator-Dr-rasha-Kelej-with-her-designs-during-the-shoot-of-OUR-Africa-TV-Program-11.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Senator-Dr-rasha-Kelej-with-her-designs-during-the-shoot-of-OUR-Africa-TV-Program-11-300x265.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Senator-Dr-rasha-Kelej-with-her-designs-during-the-shoot-of-OUR-Africa-TV-Program-11-768x680.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Senator-Dr-rasha-Kelej-with-her-designs-during-the-shoot-of-OUR-Africa-TV-Program-11-600x531.jpeg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/246-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8994\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/246-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/246-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/246-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/246-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/246-600x600.jpg 600w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/246-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/246.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"565\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-and-The-First-Lady-of-Zambia-with-merck-Foundation-Alumni-from-Zambia12.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8995\" style=\"width:1026px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-and-The-First-Lady-of-Zambia-with-merck-Foundation-Alumni-from-Zambia12.jpg 565w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-and-The-First-Lady-of-Zambia-with-merck-Foundation-Alumni-from-Zambia12-300x212.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 565px) 100vw, 565px\" \/><\/figure><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/435-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8996\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/435-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/435-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/435-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/435-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/435-600x600.jpg 600w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/435-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/435.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-and-The-First-Lady-of-Zimbabwe-with-Merck-Foundation-Alumni-from-Zimbabwe12.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8997\" style=\"width:1026px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-and-The-First-Lady-of-Zimbabwe-with-Merck-Foundation-Alumni-from-Zimbabwe12.jpg 600w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-and-The-First-Lady-of-Zimbabwe-with-Merck-Foundation-Alumni-from-Zimbabwe12-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/figure><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/532-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8998\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/532-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/532-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/532-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/532-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/532-600x600.jpg 600w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/532-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/532.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"693\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-with-Merck-Foundation-Alumni-from-Zambia7.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-8999\" style=\"width:1026px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-with-Merck-Foundation-Alumni-from-Zambia7.jpg 693w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-with-Merck-Foundation-Alumni-from-Zambia7-300x173.jpg 300w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-with-Merck-Foundation-Alumni-from-Zambia7-600x346.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 693px) 100vw, 693px\" \/><\/figure><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/628-1-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9000\" style=\"width:1026px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/628-1-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/628-1-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/628-1-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/628-1-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/628-1-600x600.jpg 600w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/628-1-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/628-1.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-with-The-First-Lady-of-Burundi-and-erck-Foundation-Alumni-from-Burundi.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9001\" style=\"width:1026px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-with-The-First-Lady-of-Burundi-and-erck-Foundation-Alumni-from-Burundi.jpg 600w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Merck-Foundation-CEO-with-The-First-Lady-of-Burundi-and-erck-Foundation-Alumni-from-Burundi-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/figure><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/150-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9002\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/150-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/150-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/150-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/150-768x768.jpg 768w, 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At Merck Foundation, we mark\u00a0&#8216;World Diabetes Day&#8217;\u00a0through our effortsevery day by providing scholarships for young doctors to transform the patient care landscape in the fields of Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Hypertension- conditions that are closely linked, and by raising awareness in communities [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8989,"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-8988","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 CEO of Merck Foundation, Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej on marking &quot;World Diabetes Day 2024&quot; with the First Ladies of Africa by providing 830 Scholarships in Diabetes, Endocrinology, Preventative Cardiovascular for doctors from 52 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=8988\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Message from CEO of Merck Foundation, Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej on marking &quot;World Diabetes Day 2024&quot; with the First Ladies of Africa by providing 830 Scholarships in Diabetes, Endocrinology, Preventative Cardiovascular for doctors from 52 countries | Rasha Kelej\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Senator Dr Rasha Kelej, Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp together with the African First Ladies. 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