{"id":9227,"date":"2026-04-15T14:04:04","date_gmt":"2026-04-15T10:04:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/?p=9227"},"modified":"2026-04-15T14:28:19","modified_gmt":"2026-04-15T10:28:19","slug":"message-from-ceo-of-merck-foundation-senator-rasha-kelej-marking-world-health-day-2024-by-providing-1740-scholarships-to-doctors-from-52-countries-in-44-specialties","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/?p=9227","title":{"rendered":"Message from CEO of Merck Foundation, Senator, Rasha Kelej marking \u2018World Health Day 2024\u2019 by providing 1740 scholarships to doctors from 52 countries in 44 specialties"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation with Merck Foundation Alumni.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>

At Merck Foundation, we mark\u00a0World Health Day<\/strong>\u00a0every single day of the year over the past\u00a012 years<\/strong>, by building healthcare capacity and transforming patient care across Africa, Asia and beyond.\u00a0I am proud to share that Merck Foundation has provided over\u00a01740 scholarships<\/strong>\u00a0to aspiring young doctors from\u00a052 countries,<\/strong>\u00a0in\u00a044 critical and underserved medical specialties\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>such as\u00a0Oncology, Diabetes, Preventative Cardiovascular Medicine, Endocrinology, Sexual and Reproductive Medicine, Acute Medicine, Respiratory Medicine, Embryology & Fertility specialty, Gastroenterology, Dermatology, Psychiatry, Emergency and Resuscitation Medicine, Critical Care, Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Neonatal Medicine, Advanced Surgical Practice, Pain Management, General Surgery, Clinical Microbiology and infectious diseases, Internal Medicine, Trauma & Orthopedics, Neurosurgery, Neurology, Cardiology, Stroke Medicine, Care of the Older Person, Family Medicine, Pediatrics and Child Health, Obesity & Weight Management, Women\u2019s Health, Biotechnology in ART and many more.<\/strong><\/p>

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Message from\u00a0Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation on World Health Day, 2024.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>

For Example, before the start of the\u00a0Merck Foundation programs in 2012<\/strong>; there was not a single\u00a0Oncologist, Fertility or Reproductive care specialists, Diabetologist, Respiratory or ICU specialist in many countries such as The Gambia, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Central African Republic, Guinea, Burundi, Niger, Chad, Ethiopia, Namibia among others.<\/strong>\u00a0We are certainly creating historic legacy in Africa, and also beyond. Together with our partners like\u00a0Africa\u2019s First Ladies, Ministries of Health, Gender, Education and Communication<\/strong>, we are impacting the lives of people in the most disadvantaged communities in Africa and beyond.<\/p>

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Merck Foundation CEO and The First Lady of Zimbabwe with Merck Foundation Alumni from Zimbabwe.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>

Therefore, I am happy to announce the Call for Applications for 2024 Scholarships<\/strong> for young doctors with special focus on female doctors for our online one-year diploma and two-year master degree in 44 critical and underserved medical specialties<\/strong>, which includes both Online Diploma programs and On-Site Fellowship and clinical training  programs. The applications are invited through the Office of our Ambassadors and long-term partners, The  First Ladies of Africa and Ministry of Health of each country.<\/p>

I strongly believe that training healthcare providers and building professional healthcare capacity is the right strategy to improve access to equitable and quality at health care in Africa.<\/p>

Details of the Scholarships:<\/u><\/strong><\/p>

ONLINE Diploma Scholarships:<\/strong><\/p>

Sr. No<\/strong><\/td>Duration<\/strong><\/td>Speciality<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
1<\/strong><\/td>PG Diploma (1 year)<\/strong><\/td>Diabetes<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
2<\/strong><\/td>PG Diploma (1 Year)<\/strong><\/td>Preventative Cardiovascular Medicine<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
3<\/strong><\/td>PG Diploma (1 Year)<\/strong><\/td>Sexual and Reproductive Medicine<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
4<\/strong><\/td>PG Diploma (1 Year)<\/strong><\/td>Endocrinology<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
5<\/strong><\/td>PG Diploma (1 Year)<\/strong><\/td>Respiratory Medicine<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
6<\/strong><\/td>PG Diploma (1 Year)<\/strong><\/td>Acute Medicine<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
7<\/strong><\/td>PG Diploma (1 Year)<\/strong><\/td>Rheumatology<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
8<\/strong><\/td>PG Diploma (1 Year)<\/strong><\/td>Gastroenterology<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
9<\/strong><\/td>PG Diploma (1 Year)<\/strong><\/td>Dermatology in Clinical Practice<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
10<\/strong><\/td>PG Diploma (1 Year)<\/strong><\/td>Clinical Psychiatry<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
11<\/strong><\/td>PG Diploma (1 Year)<\/strong><\/td>Medical Oncology<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
12<\/strong><\/td>PG Diploma (1 Year)<\/strong><\/td>Obesity and Weight Management<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
13<\/strong><\/td>PG Diploma (1 Year)<\/strong><\/td>Infectious Diseases<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
14<\/strong><\/td>PG Diploma (1 Year)<\/strong><\/td>Women’s Health<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
15<\/strong><\/td>PG Diploma (1 Year)<\/strong><\/td>Urology<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
16<\/strong><\/td>PG Diploma (1 Year)<\/strong><\/td>Family Medicine<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
17<\/strong><\/td>PG Diploma (1 Year)<\/strong><\/td>Paediatrics and Child Health<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
18<\/strong><\/td>PG Diploma (1 Year)<\/strong><\/td>Pain Management<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
19<\/strong><\/td>PG Diploma (1 Year)<\/strong><\/td>Cardiology<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
20<\/strong><\/td>PG Diploma (1 Year)<\/strong><\/td>Stroke Medicine<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
21<\/strong><\/td>PG Diploma (1 Year)<\/strong><\/td>Neurology<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
22<\/strong><\/td>PG Diploma (1 Year)<\/strong><\/td>Neurosurgery<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
23<\/strong><\/td>PG Diploma (1 Year)<\/strong><\/td>Care of the Older Person<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
24<\/strong><\/td>PG Diploma<\/strong>(21 months)<\/strong><\/td>Emergency and Resuscitation Medicine<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
25<\/strong><\/td>PG Diploma<\/strong>(21 Months)<\/strong><\/td>Laparoscopic Surgical Skills<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
26<\/strong><\/td>PG Diploma (2 years)<\/strong><\/td>Neonatal Medicine<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
27<\/strong><\/td>PG Diploma (2 years)<\/strong><\/td>Pediatric Emergency Medicine<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
28<\/strong><\/td>PG Diploma (2 years)<\/strong><\/td>Primary Care Ophthalmology<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
29<\/strong><\/td>PG Diploma (2 Years)<\/strong><\/td>Internal Medicine<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
30<\/strong><\/td>PG Diploma (2 Years)<\/strong><\/td>Neuroimaging for research<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
31<\/strong><\/td>ChM (2 Years) <\/strong><\/td>Trauma and Orthopedics<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
32<\/strong><\/td>ChM (2 Years)<\/strong><\/td>General Surgery<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
33<\/strong><\/td>MSc (15 Months)<\/strong><\/td>Biotechnology of Human Assisted Reproduction and Embryology<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
34<\/strong><\/td>MSc (2 years)<\/strong><\/td>Advanced Surgical Practice<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>

How to Apply:<\/u><\/strong><\/p>