Will Post-Graduates take interest In Leprosy?
Is neglecting the “Neglected Disease of Leprosy” the fault of the students? To seek an answer, the Indian Association of Dermatologists, Venerologists and Leprologists - Maharashtra Branch (IADVL-MB) in collaboration with Bombay Leprosy Project (BLP) took a bold step and arranged an one-day Academic Session in Sion Medical College on 8th June’2008. To attract the students and create interest in leprosy, subjects like Lasers, Biologics, HIV Medicine etc. were deftly added.
A large number of medical students of Maharashtra enthusiastically listened to the subject of leprosy being succinctly explained by veteran leprologists like Dr R Ganapati, VV Dongre and VV Pai as well as stalwart dermatologists, such as Drs CM Dambre (President, IADVL MB) Uday Khopkar, S Tahliani, Kiran Godse etc. Recent advances in leprosy in the areas of diagnosis, pathogenesis, chemotherapy & complications were provided in learner-friendly “made easy” packages. Academic publications by BLP were distributed. A variety of leprosy patients were demonstrated.
The students gleefully participated in an exciting quiz session with attractive prizes. It was remarkable that tough questions on leprosy were answered with confidence.
The organizers were confident that “Yes, the post-graduates will take interest in the neglected topic of leprosy if the subject is taught in an attractive manner”.
