Press Release: MKI launches campaign on South African radio to raise health awareness

Cooperation between MKI and ABC Ulwazi brings message of hope through radio 

Cape Town, December 10, 2010 - The Medical Knowledge Institute (MKI) has in partnership with ABC Ulwazi - radio production, training and consultancy - embarked on a new project in the Western Cape. This collaboration means that ABC Ulwazi has produced a series of mini-dramas that highlight the importance of health education end encourage people to take responsibility for their health.

Through these Public Service Announcements (PSAs), ABC Ulwazi will provide community radio listeners with information that has a direct impact on their health and wellbeing. The PSAs are in a mini-drama format and captures the essence of each educational message in a dramatic and entertaining manner. The programmes will be broadcast on six different community radio stations that are based in the Western Cape. Radio listeners can look forward to the broadcast which begins in late January 2011 and runs for five weeks till the end of February 2011.
Especially for this campaign, the Dutch composer Laurens van Rooyen offered one of his songs - Song for Piano - as "Music for MKI's mission” tune for the broadcasts.

Singer, actor, producer, director and Goodwill ambassador for the MKI Jimmie Earl Perry says: “It is very important to educate people on HIV/Aids through factual information and empower all people infected and affected by this virus through the creative arts; powerful tools  have been created at the Africa Centre for HIV/Aids Management at Stellenbosch University to disseminate this life saving information thru drama and music. Because music is a universal language that connects people all over the world, I have used my training and experience in music, theatre and film to assist in the fight against HIV/Aids. Education and prevention are the keys to good health and that is exactly what the Medical Knowledge Institute with this campaign wants to achieve: Prevention through education and to reach people with messages of hope!”

Harold Robles, founder and director of the MKI: “It is wonderful to communicate with people through these special mini-dramas and to bring them the message of the MKI: ‘Prevention through education’! We are very excited about this partnership and moreover the success of this project will allow for further collaboration between MKI and ABC Ulwazi, which will cover a wider network of almost hundred South African community radio stations. Mini-dramas through the radio can reach a large audience and that is one of the main goals of the MKI.”

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About the Medical Knowledge Institute, ‘Prevention through Education'
The Medical Knowledge Institute (MKI) is an international non-profit healthcare organization that focuses on education and providing information from the conviction that healthcare is a human right.

Under the motto ‘Prevention through Education' the MKI focuses with full conviction on its objective to improve the living conditions of the population in southern Africa by giving medically related trainings and workshops to local aid workers. In their turn these local heroes pass on that knowledge to other local aid workers and trainers. The Healthcare Educational programs have been developed to improve the quality and the humanitarian values of healthcare through education and public healthcare programs. Medical experts from all around the world are engaged for this. The funds to be able to perform this important work are mainly received through donations. The sale of an exclusive series of jewellery by means of the YOELL^® project initiated by MKI also contributes to MKI's success.

The Medical Knowledge Institute is based in the Netherlands (Oostvoorne), South Africa (Cape Town) and the United States of America (Springfield - MA) and was founded in 1999 by dr. Harold E. Robles, founder and President Emeritus of the Albert Schweitzer Institute for the Humanities, and dr. Peter J. Bittel, Chairman and CEO of The Futures Health Group. More information about the activities, projects, workshops and events of the MKI www.infomki.org

About ABC Ulwazi
Applied Broadcasting Centre (ABC) Ulwazi is a Radio Training and Production House based in Johannesburg, South Africa. We are a Section 21 non-governmental and non-profit organisation with 18a status. Our objectives are the strengthening of the community radio sector in South Africa and the development of radio as a tool for development and education.
ABC Ulwazi commits itself to providing professional training and quality programmes in all genres and languages to the community radio sector, as its contribution to the empowerment of South African society. It strives towards service excellence, supported by a strong belief in human rights and equality. For more information visit: www.abculwazi.org.za/ 

About Laurens van Rooyen
Laurens van Rooyen was born in Utrecht and attended the local academy of music there. He established the successful music theatre group ‘Harlekijn’ together with his fellow student Herman van Veen. His solo career, rewarded for example by the ‘Golden Harp’, led to performances on many national and international stages. He became well known as a pianist, (film) composer and music educator. He released 45 CDs, many containing work of his own such as the internationally known ‘Just a Simple Love song’ and ‘Imaginary Landscapes’. More recent are the CDs ‘The Piano’ and ‘Dichterbij water’ (Closer to Water), and ode to the Dutch water landscape and co-produced by Natuurmonumenten (Nature Reserves). For more information visit: www.laurensvanrooyen.com 

Note for the editors:
For editorial information, images or interviews please contact:
Influx PR, Hilde Mussche, tel: +31 (0)55 366 3034, e-mail: MKI@influx-pr.com.