For seven consecutive years, the contribution of Dr. Rasha Kelej in driving positive change in the health sector and in empowering women and girls across Africa has received international recognition.
The UK-based New African Magazine has once again recognized Dr. Rasha in its list of “Africa’s 100 Most Influential People 2025”, alongside Presidents João Lourenço of Angola, Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, and John Mahama of Ghana.
According to a statement released by Merck Foundation, Dr. Rasha, who is the Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation, has been honored for the seventh consecutive year.
The Africa’s 100 Most Influential People 2025 list features prominent African leaders from diverse sectors, including public office, business, technology, social change, thought leadership and opinion shaping, creativity, and sports individuals who influence their communities and sectors through transformative and advocacy-driven work.
The list was released on December 22, 2025. Dr. Rasha is also the President of the “More Than a Mother” campaign. This special edition highlights individuals who are shaping Africa’s present and future. Writers and contributors of the magazine traveled across the continent to identify and recognize impactful work and contributions that are driving positive change within Africa and beyond.
Speaking about the recognition, Senator Dr. Rasha said: “I am deeply honored to be recognized as one of Africa’s 100 Most Influential People by New African (UK), and to be named alongside distinguished leaders of our continent, including the Presidents of Angola, Ghana, and South Africa, as well as many other social change-makers. I congratulate them all.”
She emphasized: “This recognition is very special to me as it acknowledges my ongoing efforts to build and strengthen healthcare capacity, empower women living with infertility, and support girls’ education through Merck Foundation programs. It motivates me and my team to further strengthen our commitment to creating sustainable and equitable impact across Africa for future generations.”
Under Dr. Rasha’s leadership, Merck Foundation has implemented high-impact programs such as the Healthcare Capacity Building Scholarship Program, aimed at transforming patient care and improving access to quality and equitable healthcare services across Africa and beyond.
Its flagship movement, “More Than a Mother,” founded by Dr. Rasha in 2015, focuses on building capacity in fertility and infertility care, breaking the stigma surrounding infertility, raising awareness on infertility prevention and male infertility, and supporting girls’ education. This is complemented by the "Educating Linda” program, which supports girls’ schooling.
Over the past 13 years, Dr. Rasha has worked closely with more than 33 First Ladies of Africa and Asia as Merck Foundation “More Than a Mother” Ambassadors in their respective countries, leading national programs in collaboration with key partners, including Ministries of Health, Information, Education and Gender, institutions of higher learning, policymakers, international fertility societies, media organizations, and artists from more than 52 countries.
“I am proud to share that we have awarded 2,500 scholarships to healthcare providers from 52 countries in 44 critical and underserved medical specialties. Many of our alumni have become, or are on their way to becoming, the first specialists in their countries. We are building a lasting legacy for Africa,” she added.
Through the Merck Foundation More Than a Mother campaign a strong movement aimed at empowering childless women or those facing infertility through access to information, education, healthcare services, and mindset change Dr. Kelej has worked closely with partners to drive social transformation and improve reproductive and women’s health landscapes in public health systems across 42 countries in Africa and Asia.
“Out of the 2,500 scholarships we have awarded, 770 have gone to healthcare providers from 42 countries for clinical training in fertility care and embryology, one-year postgraduate diplomas, and two-year master’s degrees in Sexual and Reproductive Health, Clinical Psychology, Women’s Health, Assisted Reproductive Biotechnology and Embryology, Urology, Laparoscopic Surgical Skills, and Family Medicine. These specialists are essential for advancing quality and equitable women’s healthcare, including reproductive health and infertility care,” explained Senator Rasha.
In addition, Merck Foundation supports childless women by helping them establish small income-generating businesses through the "Empowering Berna” program. “It is all about giving every woman the respect and support she deserves to live a fulfilling life, with or without children,” she added.
Furthermore, Dr. Rasha is a strong advocate for education as one of the most critical pillars of women’s empowerment. In partnership with African First Ladies, Merck Foundation has so far provided more than 1,200 annual scholarships to high-performing but underprivileged African girls from 19 countries, enabling them to complete their education and achieve their dreams.
These countries include Botswana, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria, São Tomé and Príncipe, Tanzania, Togo, Zambia, Zimbabwe, among others.
Dr. Rasha is a pioneer and catalyst for change whose vision and dedication have transformed the lives of many across Africa.
She is widely praised for her innovative efforts in addressing major social and health challenges on the continent, including breaking the stigma of infertility, supporting girls’ education, ending child marriage, gender-based violence, and female genital mutilation, and advancing women’s empowerment.
Through her exceptional leadership, Dr. Rasha has united media, fashion, and art to give a voice to the voiceless. Her unique initiatives including a Pan-African television program, media health training, annual media awards, music, fashion and film awards, advocacy songs, children’s storybooks, and animated films have driven cultural change within communities.
As a visionary leader, Dr. Rasha inspires and educates more than 8.5 million followers across social media platforms, engaging them through empowering and advocacy-driven content. Her tireless commitment, innovative approaches, and unwavering passion continue to transform social and health landscapes, leaving a legacy of hope, empowerment, and progress across Africa.
Chapisha Maoni