The pain relievers are three .. good singing, long walk and preoccupation with joy. Islamic philosopher and physician, Ibn Sina, the father of modern medicine recommended listening to music and songs as a painkiller.
Recent scientific studies have also confirmed that good music reaches all human senses and provide them with positive energy, scientific reason for this is that there are chemical changes in the human body interact with the music. Therefore, art is a purposeful message that addresses human spirit and increases awareness in communities.
Over the past few days, I have listened to a series of multi-lingual African songs that are trying to bring about real change in some of wrong habits in Africa.
What impressed me is that an Egyptian African lady who released these songs, Dr. Rasha Kelej, is the Chief Executive Officer of Merck Foundation. When I met her recently, I immediately realized that she is a loyal Egyptian African woman .. She adores Africa.
They nicknamed her as the "daughter of Africa". Well, she is not browned skinned woman with wavy hair but she has another kind of beauty, as anyone who thinks that every African citizen should be dark-skinned, is wrong.
The so-called black African race is a term used only in certain countries and often in social systems based on racial classification to describe a group of dark-skinned humans.
But in Africa "the old continent" the situation is completely different as the Egyptian, Libyan, Tunisian, Algerian, Chadian, Moroccan and other light skinned Africans are just like the people of Ghana, Guinea, Somalia, Sudan, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Kenya, Botswana, Zambia, Côte d'Ivoire, Mali and many others.
I asked Dr. Kelej about the nationalities she holds as a successful woman like her who toured the world for 23 years, may hold another nationality but her answer surprised me as she said: "I hold only the Egyptian nationality and I refused to hold any other foreign nationalities”.
Later, I knew that she really adores her homeland and always affirms on various occasions that she is "Egyptian African" citizen.
Her African spirit makes everyone deals with her loves her. This is clear in the comments of African citizens on her social media pages, which have more than one million followers.
They love her because she is one of them and aware of their problems, she is not that lady who came to them from the Champs-Elysees and New York wearing a hat and dress designed by Versace or wearing jewelry from Chopard to take pictures with the miserable children of Africa and promises to send donations.
Kelej is fully aware of the problems and crises of this black continent.
Through Merck Foundation, she sets development plans for a better future for the continent and its people so that they can be self-reliant, instead of depending on foreign aid and assistance.
"Don't give me a fish, but teach me how to fish." This is one of the strategies she adopts in all the programs launched by Merck Foundation. It is not unusual to find her in Burundi and Malawi listening to the problems of women and children there, then in the jungles of Uganda and West Africa, to provide medical aid and walks among armed militias in Central Africa.
After that she held a global conference in Ghana, Senegal or Cairo to highlight the problems of her continent and find the most appropriate solutions for them.
Therefore, one of the world's largest charities” Merck Foundation” has chosen her to be its ECO. Her autobiography and her passion for volunteering and charity are based on a strong strategy and full awareness of the conditions of the continent. She is also able to find solutions to each problem. It is really a smart and successful choice of Merck. No one will be surprised if she became president of the UN World Health Organization.
The message of Music
The African press has published numerous articles praising the role of Dr. Kelej, “We tip our hats to that African lady who has devoted her ingenious mind to empowering women and youth through employing the message of art, music and literature."
"She produced amazing new songs designed to empower African girls and women in education and work.”
"These songs were produced in collaboration with the first ladies of Africa. Recently, a Ghanaian song was produced in cooperation with Ghana's First Lady Rebecca Akufo, the Ghanaian newspapers wrote:”
The paper added: "Many girls and ladies have been touched by this song and we hope that every little girl in the heart of Africa listens to this song so that they could realize that life for women is limitless like the sky, so they could be what they want with determination and work.”
Dr. Rasha Kelej says:"Our main message in “Merck More Than a Mother” campaign is that women are not just mothers, but they represent one of the key players in the renaissance and development of Africa,"
“Kofi and Ama”
Through creative texts with linguistic experiences that target the African children for social and psychological education ... Kelej has confronted these false traditions about infertility by publishing graphics and inspiring stories about Koffi and Ama spouses.
It is a children's story that aims to instill strong family values of love and respect since childhood. The story talks about a husband and his wife who could not have children but at the same time did not lose love or respect for each other.
Kelej pointed out that the story has been published in different African languages taking into account the change of the heroes’ names to suit the culture, customs and traditions of each country.
She pointed out that she seeks to spread the campaign message in Egypt in the coming period. She confirmed that children should be taught these values in their schools and through the media.
Kelej pointed out that both boys and girls need the same kind of guidance and they should learn how to control their behavior during preschool and primary years.
“This is our way to enable our children to develop true respect for women and to know some facts about infertility prevention and how it affects both men and women,” she said.
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