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BBC WST Leprosy Project - Treating Doctors

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Summary

Leprosy specialists believe that ignorance about the disease within the medical community is a barrier to elimination.


At the invitation of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the BBC World Service Trust produced a special 20-minute training video on leprosy for government doctors and medical students.


‘Jaspal Bhatti's Leprosy Lesson' featured a famous Punjabi comedian playing the part of an ignorant, money-grubbing doctor with hilarious misconceptions about leprosy. He slowly learns the truth.


It also featured a leprosy specialist providing technical information on the disease, which was shot at the Leprosy Mission Hospital in Delhi.


The programme was shown on national TV on Anti-Leprosy Day 2001 and then distributed to 110 medical institutes and colleges in nine states across India.


“We will show it regularly to the general public and medical staff,” said Dr Vishwanath Yemul, Dean of Dr V. M. Medical College in Solapur, Maharashtra. “Simply an excellent and educational film.”

For more information, please see The Drum Beat 133.