Health

By Mackie M. Jalloh Across Africa and parts of Asia, conversations around women’s empowerment, healthcare access, girls’ education, and social inclusion are increasingly being shaped by the work of Rasha Kelej, a prominent advocate whose initiatives continue to influence lives at both policy and grassroots levels.As Chief Executive Officer of Merck Foundation and President of […]

ECA Executive Secretary calls for bold action “Health is not expenditure; it is investment – in people, in productivity and in prosperity,” said Claver Gatete, Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), as he opened the High-Level Forum on Sustainable Health Financing, on the margins of the 58th Session of the Conference of

By Mackie M. Jalloh The Merck Foundation joined forces with several African and Asian First Ladies to commemorate International Women’s Day 2026, highlighting more than a decade of programs focused on empowering women, supporting girls’ education, and addressing critical health challenges affecting women across developing countries.The celebration, which took place in Accra, Ghana on March

Dr Rasha Named Among 100 Most Influential Women By Mackie M. Jalloh Dr Rasha Kelej, a globally respected leader in public health and women’s empowerment, has been honoured as one of the 100 Most Influential Women of 2025 by New African (UK). This prestigious recognition places her alongside some of Africa’s most revered leaders—including the

By Mackie M. Jalloh In a compelling address on the urgent need to protect Sierra Leone’s youth, First Lady of Sierra Leone highlighted the escalating crisis of kush abuse and called for a united national response. Speaking at a high-level youth networking event at Country Lodge, Freetown, the First Lady framed the issue as a

By Sahrfoa Matturie At the University of Makeni, conversations around mental health took center stage as students, health professionals, and advocates gathered to confront one of Sierra Leone’s most overlooked challenges — access to mental health services during times of crisis. The dialogue, organized by SUCCEED Sierra Leone in partnership with the university’s Department of

By Mackie M. Jalloh In a bold call for comprehensive women’s health reform, Sierra Leone’s First Lady, Dr. Fatima Maada Bio, has positioned uterine health as a critical issue for national development, human rights, and social equity. Speaking at a series of engagements aimed at advancing women’s reproductive wellbeing, she emphasized that conditions such as

Accra, Ghana – Friday, August 29, 2025 – The Health Community of West Africa Association (HCOWAA) welcomed Sierra Leone’s High Commissioner to Ghana, His Excellency Mohamed Hassan Kaisamba, to its Accra headquarters on Thursday, August 28, for an engagement that opened fresh discussions on artificial intelligence (AI) and its growing role in transforming healthcare across