Social worker’s four-year drive to prove that laughter truly is the best medicine has finally brought her international recognition.

Dr Gita Suraj-Narayan, 56, and her daughter Sheroma, 26, from South Africa, have recently received international recognition for their research on the benefits of laughter therapy for stroke victims. Their work has impressed the members of the social welfare department at Ryukoku University Junior College in Japan so much that they intend to use their techniques of laughter-yoga to help people deal with the shock of the recent earthquakes in Japan.