BBC Television airs new TB film
28 March 2004

Click here to play the film.
(This film is quite long and may take a long time to load.)

"Tuberculosis" is a new documentary film that resulted from a collaborative effort between four organizations: BBC World TV commissioned the documentary for broadcast as part of its "Kill or Cure" series; London-based Rockhopper TV produced it; and the Stop TB Partnership and WHO Stop TB Department provided funding and worked out the main elements and locations for the story in conjunction with Rockhopper.

The documentary's primary focus is on DOTS in Rajasthan, India and on TB/HIV in Malawi, with scientific commentary provided by Dr. Douglas Young, chairman of the Stop TB Working Group on New Vaccines. But a strong sub-theme running throughout the film, and which is explicitly articulated by Young as a final note, is the urgent need for new tools -- drugs, diagnostics and vaccines -- in order to turn the tide against the epidemic. The documentary therefore provides a true 360-degree view on the contemporary challenges of TB control, and can be a powerful advocacy tool for all Stop TB partners.

As part of the agreement with BBC World and Rockhopper, the Stop TB Partnership will have the right to offer the film for broadcast free of charge to television stations in "secondary" markets (ie. Asia, Africa, Latin America) once it has been screened by the BBC. The Secretariat will also receive more than 4 hours of camera footage from the documentary that can be used for producing a range of audiovisual products, ie. flash films, video news releases, b-roll, etc. Send us an email for more information on how to access these materials in the coming weeks and suggestions for footage use.