Berlin, Mai 2009

The Medicus Mundi International Network mourns the death of its former President Professor Harrie Van Balen (*16.8.1930 †20.6.2009). For all Network members and partners who wish to leave a note for the memory of Harrie we have created this book of condolences. Your messages arriving at office@medicusmundi.org will be kept here and also forwarded to Harrie’s familiy. We thank you very much for your contribution.

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It is with great sadness we received the message of the decease of Professor Harrie Van Balen. Harrie served on the Executive Board of Medicus Mundi International for two terms and his presidency has been of great significance to Medicus Mundi International. To many of us and to many health workers that were deployed overseas in developing countries through the members of Medicus Mundi International in the eighties and the nineties, Harrie has been a great friend and a source of inspiration. Many will remember Harrie as their most friendly and committed professor, someone who always put the position of the poor in less developed countries right in the centre ofour attention. On behalf of all the members of Medicus Mundi International I would like to wish to his family a lot of courage and strength in these difficult moments.

Guus Eskens, President
Medicus Mundi International Network
22 June 2009

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It is sad to know that Prof. Van Balen passed away. His longstanding committment to improve public health in resource-poor countries will stand as a corner stone in our memory.  With deep grief

Francesco Castelli, President
Medicus Mundi Italy
22 June 2009

 

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J’exprime au nom de l’AMCES, mes condoléances les plus attristées à la famille du Professeur Harrie van Balen et à MMI qui vient de perdre l’un de ses ardents défenseurs. Que son âme repose en paix.

Yves Sossou, Director
AMCES Benin
22 June 2009

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Harry did so much for MMI, never, never abandoning Primary Health Care as the leading principle for our activities.

Sake Rypkema, former President
Medicus Mundi International Network
23 June 2009

 

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This is very sad news indeed. I have known Professor Harrie van Balen since I started in the Health Development work. He was one of the best lecturers the ITG had when I did my course there. I learnt so much from him, especially regarding Primary Health Care, that I can say, with certainty, that he shaped my involvement to a huge extent. Later we met often and we worked together in the context of MMI. He always continued to inspire me and I particularly admired his ever constructive approach to what ever came up. Professor van Balen will certainly be missed enormously by many, not in the least by Medicus Mundi Internationalis. My sincere condolences to you all.

Marieke Verhallen
Public Health Consultant
24 June 2009

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Harrie Van Balen has helped to shape Primary Health Care and he influenced generations of public health professionals, including me, for whom he was a landmark figure. Medicus Mundi International has to consider itself honoured to have received so much active support from him. We will miss him.

Nicolaus Lorenz, Swiss Tropical Institute
Vice-President of the MMI Network
30 June 2009

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I met prof. Van Balen in 1993 in Uganda along with Bart Criel for an evaluation of Hoima District. A charming and rigorous man. I’ve also read a number of articles and contributions he made on various subjects. Always scientific, at the point and innovative. On behalf of CUAMM I want to express our sincere condolence for his departure. Now it is up to us to continue his work at MMI.

Giovanni Putoto, Doctors with Africa CUAMM
Member of the Executive Board of the MMI Network
30 June 2009

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Homage to Professor Harrie Van Balen. Sorry, that friendly and committed
professors are passing away early. The only hope is that the way they have showed to other people, as the professionals and the humans, will inspire their followers. For me the personality of Professor Harrie Van Balen remains strongly associated with Medicus Mundi International.

Professor Zbigniew S. Pawlowski
Medicus Mundi Poland
8 July 2009