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Medical Knowledge Institute granted associative status by United Nations Department of Public Information

Oostvoorne, the Netherlands, January 11 2007- The Department of Public Information (DPI) of the United Nations – responsible for cooperation with non-governmental organizations (NGOs)- has admitted the Medical Knowledge Institute (MKI) to its roster. Only non-for-profit organizations that conform to the principles of the United Nations Charter and fulfill the DPI criteria of associations are admitted. The Medical Knowledge Institute is one of 28 organizations added to the roster.

The Medical Knowledge Institute is a not-for-profit organization – based in the Netherlands – dedicated to healthcare education and information. It acts from the premise that healthcare is a human right.

Associated organizations
Twice a year the DPI Committee on NGOs convenes a meeting: “These meetings are an important process for adding new organizations to our roster, disassociating those that no longer meet the criteria and evaluate those that are already associated with DPI”, said Raymond Sommereyns, Chair of the Committee and Director of the Outreach Division. “Our partnership with civil society is critical for the UN to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.”

“We are very pleased with this recognition by the United Nations”, said dr. Harold Robles, founder of the Medical Knowledge Institute. “We fully support the goals of the UN and will continue to focus our efforts to help achieve these goals.”

Mrs. Erin Edwards, member of the MKI Executive Board, will be the official MKI representative in New York, while Harold Robles will fulfill this task for the UN locations in Geneva and Vienna.

One of the many successful initiatives of the MKI is the ‘Mother and Child First’ HIV and AIDS Training Program; a recent project in cooperation with the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM), VU Medical Center in Amsterdam and the Dutch Red Cross. This training program is aimed at informing and educating midwives and other healthcare workers on how to prevent the transmission of HIV/AIDS from mother to child.