[The teaching of leprosy in medical schools]

All post graduated young doctors should be conscious of our major public health problems and should be able to diagnose and treat these endemic diseases. Hanseniasis is an infectious disease that has a special affinity by peripheric nerves and for that a high potential to produce disability and deformity leading to stigma and social out cast. There are 5,546,000 known patients on the world and the WHO estimates that the real figure is around 12 million in Brasil the registered number of patient is 259,000 but realistic estimations would increase it up to half a million. The disease spreads out all over Brasil but, in absolute figures the southeast region has the highest load. To cope with this problem one the basic actions is training and the teaching of hanseniasis in medical school is essential. As a systemic disease it should be present in all specialities involved leading to an increase of time devoted to the teaching of hanseniasis. This approach, which could be extended to other endemic diseases, will contribute to the eradication of many diseases that afflict our population. There is no reason for public health budget if there is no trained personal to use it.