A new MKI Health Information Centre, this time in Kayamandi

One day after World AIDS day, Marijke Cordia van der Laan and her daughter Elaine van Reesema cut the red ribbon on the staircase of the new MKI Health Information Centre.
It was the family Cordia who made it possible for us to create our own MKI Centre on top of an existing building of our new partner, the Stellenbosch Gemeente in the township of Kayamandi.
Many people, including many children, participated in the opening ceremony. Speeches, prayers and lots of singing. Before the opening ceremony, Fikiswa, the first manager and trainer of our centre gave a stunning workshop on high blood pressure. She was assisted by Dr. Tom Garven, MKI’s Medical Director for Southern Africa.
The new MKI Centre will not only be serving Kayamandi, but also four other surrounding townships.

Pictures: An unforgettable event in Kayamandi. Marijke and Elaine after cutting the ribbon

MKI salutes Professor Jan du Toit

The Medical Knowledge Institute salutes Prof Jan du Toit the dynamic leader behind the Africa Center for HIV/AIDS management at Stellenbosch University and a distinguish member of MKI’s International Board of Advisors.

Picture: Prof. du Toit at the opening of the 5th anual World AIDS Day Gala Concert

Award for humanitarian efforts in the field of HIV/AIDS for the Medical Knowledge Institute on Worlds AIDS day.

It is with great pleasure that I inform you that our Medical Knowledge Institute (MKI) received the Award for Humanitarian efforts in the field of HIV/AIDS from the Africa Centre for HIV/AIDS Management at Stellenbosch University.

This all happened during an overwhelming World AIDS Gala Concert at the Art Gallery in Cape Town. The evening's theme, "Celebrating Heroes", revolved around individuals and organizations who have contributed to the fight against AIDS.

Two individuals and one organization (Ms. Irene Biraro-Seguya from Kenya and Prof. Bongani Aug Khumalo from South Africa) received the 2009 Humanitarian Award.

I received the award on behalf of MKI from Prof. Michael Sidibe, Executive Director of UNAIDS and Under Secretary General of the United Nations and Prof. Jan du Toit, Director of the Africa Centre for HIV/AIDS Management.

All of this in the presence of many dignitaries like Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, Premier Minister Helen Zille of the Western Cape, the Counsel General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Mr. & Mrs. David de Waal and many others.

Dear friends, I received this very special award on behalf of all of us involved in the mission and goals of the Medical Knowledge Institute.

Warm greetings from South Africa,

Harold

Jimmie Earl Perry, MKI’s Goodwill Ambassador appointed first UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassador for South Africa

The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS has appointed Professor Jimmie Earl Perry as its first Goodwill Ambassador for HIV/AIDS in South Africa in an effort to address the alarming rate of people infected with the disease in the country. The announcement was made by Executive Director of UNAIDS, Mr. Michel Sidibe, at the World Aids Day gala concert held at the Artscape Theatre in Cape Town, produced and directed by Prof. Perry and hosted by Stellenbosch University’s Africa Centre for HIV/AIDS Management on World Aids Day. Professor Perry, a singer, actor and dancer, is currently the Director of the Centre’s Educational Theatre and Creative Arts Program.

The UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassadors are prominent individuals from the world of arts, science, literature, entertainment, sport and other fields of public life who have expressed their desire to contribute to UNAIDS and to move the AIDS response forward.

According to Mr Sidibe: “Professor Perry has demonstrated a commitment to the AIDS response through his work with the creative arts and UNAIDS is confident that he will be a compelling and eloquent advocate in fostering continued support for the response and the work of UNAIDS in particular.” He noted that although South Africa has the largest HIV/AIDS epidemic in the world, advocacy remains a crucial first-line approach to keeping HIV high on the agenda.

Professor Perry, who has been involved in HIV/AIDS awareness initiatives since the 80s, says he is honoured and humbled to have been asked to be a Goodwill Ambassador. According to him, his mandate from UNAIDS is to advocate universal access and equality for all and to continue to creatively educate, help prevent and minimize new HIV infections. “If we are to turn this pandemic around South Africans have to really understand what the virus is, how it is spread, that it is not a death sentence thanks to medical treatment and to put an end to the fear and stigma of living with HIV.”

The appointment of Professor Perry brings the total of international Goodwill Ambassadors to eight. The others being Emmanuel Adebayor and Michael Ballack (football stars); Naomi Watts (actress); Salman Ahmad and Toumani Diabaté (musicians); Her Serene Highness Princess Stephanie of Monaco; and Her Royal Highness Princess Mathilde of Belgium. They represent the Joint United Programme on HIV/AIDS, which coordinates the HIV/AIDS work of UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP, UNDP, UNFPA, UNODC, ILO, UNESCO, WHO and the World Bank. They raise the profile of work and the fight against stigma and discrimination on HIV issues for every affected population around the world.

We at MKI are proud of our Goodwill Ambassador Perry.

PICTURES: Prof. Jimmie Earl Perry in action, and being congratulated by the Executive Director of UNAIDS.

Presenting Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu with the Dutch van Emden Prize on World AIDS day.

MKI’s honorary Chairman, Baron Kraijenhoff should have been the one standing on stage on World AIDS day in Cape Town, South Africa to present Desmond Tutu with the Dutch van Emden Prize. However because of ill health I had the honor to do it. Guup Kraijenhoff had sent the following message:

“Dear Archbishop Tutu,

We consider it an honor that you accept the Van Emden Prize which is awarded outside the Netherlands tonight for the first time.

Your merits have been recognized worldwide but what is so special about you is that you never stopped taking interest in the small charity operations – the grassroots activities and supported them in every way you can.

They have the advantage of remaining flexible and ready to cooperate with other societies. I am thinking here of one organizations with whom you and I have very close ties, the Medical Knowledge Institute MKI.

But there are many more of these “hands-on” organizations, some of them even carry your name that you inspire with your unending love for humanity.

Every society however small needs a champion, a hero, and you are our hero not only tonight but for forever”.

Pictures: Presenting Desmond Tutu with the Van Emden Prize on behalf of Guup Kraijenhoff.

MKI and the 46664 bangle of the Nelson Mandela Foundation

“It never ceases to amaze me how people react to situations when they realize that a small action can have big implications, The response in Holland over the last two weeks since the launch of the 46664 bangle in de Bijenkorf Amsterdam store has see the sales increase at a fantastic rate” said Robert Coutts the CEO of the 46664 Bangle Initiative. The generosity of the Dutch people is very evident in the way they have taken to helping others less fortunate and started taking the 46664 bangle program to heart by buying the bangles.

It is equally gratifying to see how people like Dr. Harold Robles, founder & president of the Medical Knowledge Institute took the bangle program under his wing for the Benelux region and opened doors so that we would be able to launch in Holland with all the correct partners and fanfare the initiative deserves. De Bijenkorf the selected partner to launch the program, provided a platform in the best store at the busiest time and only goes to show that the retailer who really do care are prepared to allow programs like the 46664 bangle initiative to gain access to the general public via their retail outlets.

This festive season de Bijenkorf deserve your support as much as we would like the 46664 bangle program to gain your support for this generous opportunity they have given the 46664 bangle program.
We look forward to making a large impact via the de Bijenkorf stores throughout the Benelux region.
The bangles are available in Copper, Silver, Gold and Platinum at €36.99, € 186.00 respectively for Copper and Silver with the Gold and Platinum on special order only.

Pictures: Kenneth Herdigein and Sebastiaan Labrie, South Africa Ambassador Peter Goosen and Baron Kraijenhoff, Ambassador Goosen and Kenneth Herdigein receiving the 46664 Bangle (2x), Kim Vos, Kenneth Herdigein and Ambassador Goosen, Robert Couts and Harold Robles, and finally THE 46664 BANGLE.

Michael Gorbachev, celebrating a friendship of more than 15 years.

What a joy it was to see my old friend, former President Michael Gorbachev again last Sunday, October 25, 2009. We go a long way back, I have for instance been chairman of his organization ‘International Trust for Children’s Healthcare’.
I was invited to have lunch with him at the Hermitage in Amsterdam. His first remarks were that I had grown grayer…
He was interested in my activities in South Africa and we talked about the growing HIV/AIDS problems in his country.
He was accompanied by two old friends from the past; his personal assistance and translator Pavel and Alexander Likhotal, President and CEO of Green Cross International, an organization created by Gorbachev in 1993.

Pictures:
1. With Michael Gorbachev in Amsterdam on October 25, 2009
2. 12 years earlier at a press conference in Wallingford Connecticut, USA after being appointed Chairman of Michael Gorbachev’s International Trust for Children’s Healthcare