Press Release: Visit Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu: Graduation program ‘Play it Safe’ at MKI Health Centre in Khayelitsha

Cape Town, August 12 2010 -- In his position as member of MKI’s International Board of Advisors, Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu visited the MKI Health Centre in Khayelitsha. He also participated in the graduation program ‘Play it Safe’ and joined the graduation party at the Health Centre. The Medical Knowledge Institute - ‘Prevention through Education' (MKI) is an organization founded with the aim to solve healthcare problems through education and thus to improve the world.

Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu was invited by MKI’s Founder and President Dr. Harold Robles to participate in the graduation program ‘Play it Safe’. The ‘Play It Safe’ workshop has been developed by integrating sessions from Stepping Stones and Models of Manhood, and adapting them for adult male participants. The ‘Play It Safe’ workshop provides opportunities for its participants to examine their personal values and attitudes towards HIV & AIDS, gender and inter-sexual relationships. The major goals of this workshop include the reduction in the number of sexual partners among men and a greater, correct and consistent condom use among men.

The aim is to assist participants to build on their existing knowledge of aspects of sexual health and HIV & AIDS, and to help developing their skills in communicating with others, to ensure that people know exactly what they want. This workshop series uses participatory learning approaches, as people learn better when their knowledge is affirmed and they are able to discuss and decide things for themselves. Participants will receive handouts and booklets covering the subjects that have been covered.

The workshop has been the result of research performed by the Health Systems Research Unit (HSRU) at the Medical Research Council (MRC) by coordinating the development of a HIV intervention program among men between the age of 25 and 54 years in Khayelitsha.

Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu’s visit also coincides with the creation of the MKI South Africa Trust which was officially inaugurated last Tuesday. In Khayelitsha Desmond Tutu met some of MKI’s trustees and the staff in South Africa and again he showed his appreciation for the MKI: "The Medical Knowledge Institute has made great in-roads in South Africa helping to improve the public health of the people who ordinarily would not afford adequate health care."
His visit has been filmed for a documentary on the activity of MKI in Southern Africa.

"We still experience the full support of the Medical Knowledge Institute by Archbishop Desmond Tutu as very special", dr. Harold Robles said. "His unwavering commitment for a better world and particularly the emphasis on 'health as a human right' remains inspiring the MKI but also the people in the townships."

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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

Editors’ note: 
For editorial information, visual material or interview possibilities: 
Dr. Suzanne Marotta, O: 800.218.9280, F: 866.656.6111, smarotta@infomki.org or 
Jakob Brons / Press Officer MKI, tel: +31 654 34 3284, jbrons@infomki.org