Talba Minn Malta (A prayer from Malta): 1972

This page tells the remarkable success story of the Malta Leprosy Elimination Project (MLEP) and presents the musical prayer of thanksgiving
“Talba Minn Malta (A prayer from Malta)” created to commemorate it.    

It is dedicated to all those afflicted with leprosy since ancient times and to the many, especially those responsible for the MLEP, who, generously
and courageously, strived to help them. 

Leprosy (Hansen’s disease) was endemic in Malta since at least the time of the Knights of St John. At the start of the 1970s there were more than 200 known leprosy patients in Malta, with an incidence of about 10 new cases per year. The then available treatment could only, at best, control the disease but not cure it. Treatment with multiple drugs, so-called multidrug therapy (MDT), was proposed to improve treatment efficacy and was trialled in Malta starting in June 1972. The programme, known as the Malta Leprosy Elimination project (MLEP), was designed and co-ordinated by Prof. Enno Freerksen of the Borstel Research Institute, Hamburg, Germany and supported by the Sovereign Military Order of Malta and the German Leprosy Relief Association.

Sir Paul Boffa Hospital, Floriana, Malta where most of the clinical work of the MLEP was carried out.

Most of the clinical work in the project was done by Dr George Depasquale, assisted by Dr Edgar Bonnici. Patients were followed up closely for up to 17 years. Remaining patients were subsequently followed up by Dr Paul Gatt. The project was very successful and consequently MDT became, and remains to date, standard treatment for leprosy. Millions of patients throughout the world have benefited from this important breakthrough.

I was contacted in 2015 by Dr James Riopelle, an anaesthetist in New Orleans, United States. He had an interest in leprosy and, struck by the significance of the MLEP, wished to collaborate to commemorate it. He wrote the lyric for a moving musical prayer of thanksgiving and hope for the world (later named “Talba Minn Malta [A prayer from Malta”]: 1972) with music by Fr Michael Burke. The prayer is set in December 1972 in a country chapel in Malta and presents a young lady with leprosy who, having almost lost all hope, was restored to life, a ‘normal life,’ by MDT. 

After several revisions of the lyric and musical score, the aria was performed by the Russian soprano Vlada Borovko, then based in London, and Royal Opera House conductor and pianist Paul Wynne Griffiths and recorded at Angel Recording Studios, London on 8th April 2019.

We subsequently decided that presentation of the aria should be upgraded to a video, acted by Vlada Borovko, in Malta. Unfortunately, however, first the COVID-19 pandemic and later the war in Ukraine, precluded Vlada from travelling to Malta. Realizing that the political climate in Europe was not likely to change soon, she generously agreed that a Maltese actress takes her place in the video. The video was eventually filmed by Studioseven Audiovisual Solutions, with actress Rebecca Dimech, at Bir Miftuħ chapel, Gudja, Malta on 31st May 2024. 

The Talba Minn Malta audio recording in London and video production in Malta were generously funded by Dr James Riopelle. 

Dr Depasquale’s dedicated work over many years was crucial to the success of the MLEP. He sadly passed away on 7th March 2024, after a short illness borne with tremendous courage. He is fondly remembered by his patients and colleagues. 

Dr Michael Boffa
MLEP Tribute Malta Coordinator
May 2025

Talba Minn Malta Music Video

“Talba Minn Malta (A prayer from Malta)” is a musical prayer of thanksgiving, created to commemorate the remarkable success story of the Malta Leprosy Elimination Project. The prayer is set in December 1972 in a country chapel in Malta and presents a young lady with leprosy who, having almost lost all hope, was restored to life, a ‘normal life,’ by multi drug therapy. The lyric was written by Dr James Riopelle, with music by Rev Dr Michael Burke and performed by Vlada Borovko in London. The video features Maltese actress Rebecca Dimech.

Interview with Dr George Depasquale

Dr George Depasquale did most of the clinical work in the Malta Leprosy Elimination Project. He followed up patients meticulously for many years and it is largely to his credit that the programme was so successful. In this video he is interviewed about his experiences by Dr Michael Boffa.

Further Reading