{"id":9438,"date":"2026-04-16T16:25:27","date_gmt":"2026-04-16T12:25:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/?p=9438"},"modified":"2026-04-16T16:29:26","modified_gmt":"2026-04-16T12:29:26","slug":"message-from-ceo-of-merck-foundation-senator-rasha-kelej-on-conducting-merck-foundation-africa-research-summit-mars-awards-2023-of-best-african-women-researchers-and-young-researchers-announ","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rasha-kelej.com\/?p=9438","title":{"rendered":"Message from CEO of Merck Foundation, Senator, Rasha Kelej on conducting Merck Foundation Africa Research Summit\u2013MARS Awards 2023 of Best African Women Researchers and Young Researchers announced during Video Conference"},"content":{"rendered":"
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MARS AWARDS Ceremony VC\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>

Like every year since 2016, I am extremely proud of our 6 Winners of MARS Awards<\/strong> this year who have been recognized under the two categories of \u2018Best African Women Researchers Awards\u2019 and \u2018Best African Young Researcher Awards\u2019 <\/strong>for their valuable contribution in research, especially by African Female Researchers who are under presented in this field, as we all know. Through Merck Foundation African Research Summit \u2013 MARS Awards, we aim to empower African young researchers and of course to empower and encourage African women researchers through advancing their research capacity and promote their contribution to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). <\/strong><\/p>

As promised I am also very happy to share with you all that we provided an opportunity to one of first winner of each category, however, only Ms. Stella Irungu from Kenya <\/strong>was able to attend the 4-day long International Federation of Fertility Societies \u2013 The IFFS World Congress 2023,<\/strong> held recently in Athens, Greece.<\/p>

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Merck Foundation is committed to improving the lives of people and has been transforming the Patient care landscape and making history together with its partners in Africa, Asia, and beyond, by providing 1700 Scholarships<\/strong> for doctors from 50 Countries in 42 critical and underserved medical specialties.<\/strong><\/p>

Out of our 1700 scholarships, we have provided more than 535 scholarships for clinical and practical training for Fertility & Embryology, PG Diploma & Master Degree in Sexual and Reproductive Medicine, Clinical Psychiatry, Women’s Health, Biotechnology of Human Assisted Reproduction & Embryology, Urology, Laparoscopic Surgical skills<\/strong> to doctors from 39 countries<\/strong> across Africa and Asia. We are proud of this achievement.<\/p>

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The award ceremony was attended by Prof. Oladapo Ashiru, OFR, President of African Reproductive Care Society (ARCS), President of The Academy of Medicine Specialties of Nigeria & Secretary General of International Federation of Fertility Societies (IFFS), Nigeria and Prof. Dr. Satish Kumar Adiga, Head, Department of Reproductive Science and Coordinator at Fertility Preservation Centre, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, India.<\/p>

The ceremony was also attended bythe below African Ministers:<\/strong><\/p>

  1. Hon. Dr. BARADAHANA Lydwine,\u00a0<\/strong>Minister of Public Health and Fighting Against AIDS,\u00a0Republic of Burundi<\/em><\/strong><\/li>\n\n
  2. Hon. Dr. Ahmadou Lamin Samateh,\u00a0<\/strong>Minister of Health,\u00a0The Gambia<\/em><\/strong><\/li>\n\n
  3. Hon. Mrs Imelde SABUSHIMIKE\u00a0<\/strong>Minister of National Solidarity, Social Affairs, Human Rights and Gender,\u00a0Republic of Burundi\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>(Represented by Donatienne GIRUKWISHAKA, General Director for the Promotion of Women and Gender Equality)<\/li>\n\n
  4. Hon. Jean Sendeza,\u00a0<\/strong>Minister of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare,\u00a0Republic of Malawi<\/em><\/strong><\/li>\n\n
  5. Madam Leocadie NDACAYISABA,\u00a0<\/strong>Minister of Communication, Information Technologies and Media, Republic of Burundi\u00a0<\/strong>(Represented by Mr. MANIRAKIZA Ferdinand, Permanent Secretary, Minister of Communication, Information Technologies and Media)<\/li><\/ol>

    The MARS 2023 Award Winners are:<\/strong><\/p>

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    Winners of \u201cMARS Best Women African Researchers Awards\u201d 2023<\/u><\/strong><\/p>