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Medical Knowledge Institute (MKI) nominated for the Gates Award for Global Health 2009

Oostvoorne, 15 January 2009 – The Medical Knowledge Institute (MKI), an international non-profit organization dedicated to healthcare education and healthcare information as a human right, is nominated for the Gates Award for Global Health 2009. The Gates Award for Global Health was established by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in December 2000 to reward and exemplify organizations which have developed processes for improving health, especially in resource poor settings, with measurable results. The Gates Award for Global Health recognizes past achievements and the promise of continuing activity and improvement.
With nominees from all over the world, MKI is one of the two organisations based in The Netherlands nominated for the Gates Award 2009.

The programs of MKI are designed to improve the quality and humanitarian values of life, especially in developing countries. MKI provides medical related trainings and workshops to local healthcare workers. It can draw from a worldwide pool of medical experts. Lack of knowledge and limited access to information on for instance HIV/AIDS is the cause of many problems, like the birth of HIV infected children. Providing educational programs for healthcare workers is one of the initiatives of the Medical Knowledge Institute to combat opportunistic diseases.

Successful MKI initiatives
The MKI has been very successful in the past few years with projects like the Mother and Child First training program. This program is aimed at midwives and other healthcare employees to prevent the transmission of HIV (and subsequently AIDS) from mother to child in developing countries.

In 2008 MKI opened several Health Information Centres in Khayelitsha, Cape Town, Stellenbosch, Pietermaritzburg and Soweto. The Health Information Centres are being created for the local communities offering a selection of training courses teaching different life skills, and to provide contacts with relevant support/information. The Health Information Centres will create a critical mass of trainers who will continue to empower their local communities. Each Centre will also hold a simple public health library with an array of books aimed at all ages. The goal of the centers is to reduce the knowledge gap that exists within communities, and strengthen the capacity of community members to document and share information.

Another successful project is Yoell®, a series of exclusive jewelry handmade by HIV-infected South African women. With the money these women earn they are able to become economically independent, take care of their children and thus regain their place in society.

Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu: “It is well deserved recognition for The Medical Knowledge Institute, a grass roots organization that I am proudly associated with. The Founders of MKI Drs. Robles and Bittel and their international team have helped rethink how we serve people with great disadvantages. MKI is truly making a difference."

“My first reaction was how wonderful it is that small grass root programs are being assessed and recognized as well. Being nominated for the Gates Award means an important support for MKI and its work, and demonstrates solidarity with the many people MKI helps”, says Dr. Harold E Robles, Founder and President, Medical Knowledge Institute.

The award will be presented in Washington, D.C., at a special Awards Ceremony during the Global Health Council's Annual International Conference, May 26-30, 2009. The prize consists of a distinctive award sculpture and a prize amount of 1 million dollars.