In Memory of Dr Vicki Pinkney-Atkinson

The staff and volunteers at CANSA were very sad to hear of the passing of Dr Vicki Pinkney-Atkinson of the South African Non-Communicable Disease Alliance (SANCDA+). To us, she was fondly known as Dr Vicki and so highly respected by us all for her passionate activism and hard work in promoting awareness of non-communicable diseases.  As founding members, CANSA worked closely with Dr Vicki to establish the SANCDA+ with the aim of raising awareness of NCDs and to get support.  Dr Vicki worked tirelessly to promote prevention and treatment and get our government to take meaningful action to support those living with an NCD.

She herself lived with more than 20 NCDs, since birth and had no health insurance,  and despite her most productive years being affected by this, she did not allow herself to be stopped. It was through her driving force and working together with other civil society groups that led to the South African National Department of Health’s National Non-Communicable Diseases Strategic Plan, after eight years of activism and input. Dr Vicki’s target was to stop people dying too early from NCDs, especially diabetes, high blood pressure, cancer, and related complications and conditions.

It requires we all work together,  to strive toward realising the objectives and implement the Plan and sustain awareness. Dr Vicki leaves behind a legacy for us all to aspire to contribute to this and become strong and dedicated advocates like she was for the prevention and treatment of NCDs and avoid people dying too early. We have lost an icon, and she will never be forgotten in the health community.  We share our heartfelt condolences to her son, daughter in law, loved ones and friends.