Fashion
Merck Foundation CEO among list of 100 Most Influential African Women
Dr Rasha Kelej, Chief Executive Officer of Merck Foundation and President, ‘Merck More Than a Mother’ has been featured in the 2020 list of 100 Most Influential African Women.
The list released by ‘Be a Girl’ initiative recognised her efforts through Merck Foundation programmes to train thousands of African doctors, to support African communities during coronavirus lockdown, among other initiatives.
Part of her efforts also include empowerment of girls in education so that they can reach their potential and pursue their dreams through “Educating Linda” programme.
This is the second time, Dr Rasha Kelej has made it to the list of 100 Most Influential Africans (women and men).
In 2019, she was recognised by New African Magazine, UK, for empowering women in general and infertile women in particular through the ‘Merck More Than a Mother’ campaign.
The campaign is a historic movement that aims to empower childless and infertile women through access to information, education, and change of mind-sets.
Dr Rasha Kelej has over the years unleashed the potential of young Africans by adopting a coherent strategy and implementing programmes that positively shape the public healthcare landscape in Africa.
The work of the foundation has seen thousand young doctors benefit from unique opportunities of specialty education in many fields such as diabetes, cardiovascular, endocrinology, sexual and reproductive medicines, respiratory, acute medicines, oncology, fertility, embryology, and scientific research.
Expressing gratitude on the recognition, Dr Rasha Kelej said she felt “honoured and proud” to receive the recognition and to be included in the prestigious list among renowned African women from all spheres of life.
“This is an important recognition not only for me but to Merck Foundation and our team. As an African and an Egyptian woman, I have a great passion for improving access to equitable and quality healthcare solutions for all Africans,” she said.
“I am very lucky to work as CEO of Merck Foundation as I am empowered by them to realise our unique vision through such successful pan African programmes in partnership with African First Ladies, to contribute to the future of these girls as part of our signature campaign ‘Merck More Than a Mother’,” she added.
Dr Rasha Kelej believes empowering women starts with education, to enable them to be healthier, stronger, and independent.
She noted that the recognition would also encourage and motivate her to empower the talented girls of the continent.
The list had representation of the most powerful African women from 34 countries, chosen from various career backgrounds including diplomacy, philanthropy, politics, activism, entrepreneurship, business leadership, and entertainment.
It included many famous names like; H. E. Monica Geingos, The First Lady of Namibia; H.E. Elene Sirleaf, former President of Liberia, amongst others.
Dr Rasha Kelej has been able to work in long term partnerships with 18 African First Ladies as ambassadors of ‘Merck More Than a Mother’ to build local healthcare capacity, empower girls in education and break infertility stigma across the continent.
Fashion
A touch of smock to style up on Easter
Gone were the days when smock was worn only on occasions.
There was this perception that it can only be worn during engagements, weddings and festivals.
Interestingly, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Avonsige has added new touches to the smock, making it a choice for all occasions.
With the new designs, the smock comes in forms of dresses, trousers, bubu dresses and skirts.
By Linda Abrefi Wadie
Fashion
Evolution of Hair Extensions: Closures and Frontals
The hair and beauty industry has witnessed remarkable advancements over the years, with evolving trends that enhance both aesthetics and versatility.
One of the most significant transformations in hairstyling is the shift from traditional weave-on extensions to modern closures and frontals.
In the late 1990s, weave-ons were the preferred choice for women looking to add length and volume to their natural hair.
However, with contemporary innovations, closures and frontals have emerged as the new standard, providing a seamless, natural appearance while allowing for greater styling flexibility.
These hairpieces have become an essential part of hairstyling for various occasions, including weddings, parties, religious gatherings, and other social events.
Understanding Closures and Frontals serves the common purpose of enhancing hair volume and styling options while creating a natural-looking hairline.
They differ in structure, coverage, and styling versatility:
Frontals: A frontal is a hairpiece that extends from ear to ear, usually measuring 13 inches in width and 4 to 6 inches in depth.
It provides a full hairline and allows for diverse parting styles, offering the illusion of a completely natural hairline.
Frontals are typically sewn onto bundles or used to construct full wigs, allowing for maximum styling flexibility.
Closures: A closure is a smaller hairpiece, often measuring around 4×4 inches, and is placed at the crown or front section of the head. Unlike frontals, closures offer limited parting space, making them suitable for more defined and structured hairstyles.
However, closures are low-maintenance and provide a realistic finish that seamlessly blends with natural hair.
These innovative hairpieces offer a more seamless and natural look, elevating confidence and allowing for versatile styling options.
As the industry continues to evolve, closures and frontals remain a preferred choice for women seeking sophisticated, stylish, and convenient hair solutions.
By Georgina Boadiwaa Ntim
