Videos promoting COVID-19 conspiracies are re-emerging despite a crackdown

April 9, 2021

A year after the pandemic, the conspiracy theory that coronavirus is a hoax and that Bill Gates and Dr Fauci are behind it is again gaining popularity...

In Conversation

“Health has to become political”: Shamika Ravi

April 9, 2021

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This World Health Day, HealthLEADSs Asia spoke to Prof. Shamika Ravi, Non Resident Senior Fellow at Brookings Institution and former member of the PM’s...

First Check

No evidence to prove COVID-19 vaccine causes heart attacks

April 6, 2021

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A social media post promoting a correlation between the COVID-19 vaccine and heart attacks is getting wide popularity. However, there is no evidence to link...

Cover Interview

“My children couldn’t make sense of what was happening”

April 2, 2021

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How did the pandemic and the lockdown affect the children in India? A panel of five people throws light on an epidemic of a different kind – mental health of...

First Check

Debunked claims of COVID-19 cures resurface in vernacular language

March 22, 2021

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First Check found videos encouraging unscientific cures of COVID-19 on YouTube in Bengali – a language mostly spoken in the West Bengal state of India and...

First Check

Are DIY disinfectants safe?

March 15, 2021

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Youtube is awash with how to disinfect surfaces and many people have resorted to trying to make their own disinfectants by watching viral do-it-yourself (DIY)...

First Check

First Check now a member of the International Fact-Checking Network

March 15, 2021

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First Check, the health fact-checking initiative of HealthLEADS is now a signatory of the International Fact-Checking Network at Poynter, USA. As a pioneer in...

First Check

Misleading WhatsApp message questions Pfizer vaccine efficacy

March 6, 2021

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A recent WhatsApp message presented a series of arguments discrediting the claimed 95% efficacy of Pfizer vaccine. The message is partly correct, but it is...

First Check

This tonic of leaves cannot cure HIV

March 1, 2021

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There is no scientific evidence to prove that a health drink made of Indian date leaves, sacred fig leaves, and Cynodon leaves can cure HIV. A...

In Focus

Five-step approach to public health

February 26, 2021

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Effective public health programmes call for dedicated methods that offer comprehensive and practical solutions to challenging situations. Young, enthusiastic...