Coronavirus Outbreak: Dr Aiswarya Explains

To be a doctor working on the COVID-19 frontlines, only to have your dignity stripped in death with no proper burial is the saddest thing to come out of this pandemic.  In this episode, Dr Aiswarya takes on burials and cremations in times of coronavirus. With the violence surrounding the burial of doctors in Chennai, and no official word from the government on the treatment of the dead - it's h...

The lockdown has all of us missing something that may not necessarily add nutritional value to our lives. Of them, alcohol tops the list for quite a few. But when recreational use bleeds into dependence - it can become a dangerous situation to navigate for addicts.  In this episode, Dr Aiswarya explains what constitutes alcohol abuse, and the dark side of the forced detox in the lockdown. In co...

Sanitizers, masks and gloves have become the anti-coronavirus kit to have in these times. From the general public to healthcare professionals, people scrambled to buy masks from Day 1 of the pandemic. 65 days in, there have been contrasting views from authorities on the need to wear a mask at all. In this episode, Dr Aiswarya explains where the debate came from, and what one really needs to do ...

In the treatment of any communicable disease, stigma and discrimination are indelibly interlinked with access to healthcare. In the current Coronavirus outbreak in India, many incidents of shaming and suspicion have emerged. Branding of the quarantined via labels and marks has not helped matters. Terms like 'social' distancing instead of 'physical' distancing is reinforcing regressive caste pra...

How do hospitals deal with numerous patients walking in and out with coronavirus symptoms? With the number of COVID-19 cases rising by the day, how are healthcare professionals and hospitals readying up for the storm that is to come?  In this episode, Dr Aiswarya speaks to Dr Uma Devi, Professor of Medicine at Stanley Medical College in Chennai who is currently on the frontlines of the COVID-19...

What does it take to make a vaccine against a disease? Immunisations save 2-3 million lives each year, however, the development of the same is a trial and error process.  As the world desperately waits for a vaccine against the novel coronavirus, Dr Aiswarya explains the history behind the first immunisation ever, and the perilous path before we procure this one. 

All public health messages dwell on individual responsibility with stress placed on the importance of hand washing, physical distancing, and staying at home even though asymptomatic. But the pillars on which the outbreak can be contained remains good public health practices of surveillance, screening, testing, isolation and contact tracing. Are state governments putting their best foot forward ...

Between social media and our family and friends, hacks to deal with coronavirus and 'facts' are being distributed generously. How much can Whatsapp forwards and home remedies be trusted though? And is everything we believe we know about the COVID-19 pandemic true? In this episode of myth-busting and more, Dr Aiswarya explains it all! 

Exactly how harmful can cough or a sneeze be during a coronavirus pandemic? Is there a way to avoid it, or to be more careful about it? Do masks actually help? What kind of mask?  In this episode, Dr Aiswarya explains it all.