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25/01/2010

Soap Operas With A Mission: how radio and TV are delivering targeted health messages around the world.

Soap Operas With a Mission: how radio drama is delivering health over the airwaves. Tim Cooper from the 成人快手 World Service Trust and Felicity Finch, who stars in the world鈥檚 longest running soap opera, The Archers on 成人快手 radio in the UK, discuss how and when powerful storylines can successfully change behaviour and save lives.

Pharmaceutical giant Glaxo Smith Kline has announced that they will allow open access to the thousands of the compounds they hold that are linked to the Malaria parasite. Dr Mogha Kamal Yanni from Oxfam welcomes the company鈥檚 steps on neglected diseases but tells Health Check GSK can still do more.

Post 9/11, toxins like Anthrax, Ricin and Botox have been very closely regulated. Scientists around the world have to undergo strict checks before they can work with them and other potentially dangerous pathogens. But now there are claims that the restrictions are too rigorous, preventing vital work on vaccines. Arturo Casadevall, Professor of Microbiology and Immunology at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York tells Claudia Hammond why the Select Agent and Toxins List in the USA needs to be reduced and rules relaxed.

Last week鈥檚 solar eclipse in India caused great excitement because it was the first time since 1965 that the country had experienced a full annular eclipse. But as well as causing excitement, it also caused great anxiety, because there is a widespread belief that solar eclipses are dangerous if you鈥檙e pregnant. Nivedita Pathak from New Delhi describes how women expecting babies stayed in their homes during the eclipse and tells the story of the gynaecologist who went to the cinema, because he knew his patients would be staying indoors!

Available now

28 minutes

Last on

Sun 31 Jan 2010 22:32GMT

Chapters

  • Soap Operas With A Mission

    How radio and TV are delivering health messages around the world. Tim Cooper of the 成人快手 World Service Trust and Felicity Finch, star of The Archers, discuss how stories alter behaviour and save lives.

    Duration: 08:52

  • GSK Make Malaria Compounds 鈥淥pen Source鈥

    Pharmaceutical giant, Glaxo Smith Kline is to make available all their compounds linked to the Malaria parasite. Oxfam responds to the GSK initiative on neglected diseases.

    Duration: 04:40

  • Bacterial Warfare: A Threat to Your Health?

    The strict regulations that have governed toxins like Anthrax, Ricin and Botox since the 9/11 attacks are stifling vital work on vaccines, according to scientists.

    Duration: 06:57

  • Pregnant Women and the Fears of a Solar Eclipse

    Last week鈥檚 solar eclipse in India caused great excitement but also health fears. Nivedita Pathak reports from New Delhi on the widespread superstitions about pregnant women and eclipses of the sun.

    Duration: 04:40

Broadcasts

  • Mon 25 Jan 2010 10:32GMT
  • Mon 25 Jan 2010 15:32GMT
  • Mon 25 Jan 2010 20:32GMT
  • Tue 26 Jan 2010 01:32GMT
  • Sun 31 Jan 2010 22:32GMT

Podcast