Punjab's killer hospital

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Dear friends across Punjab,

An innocent baby girl died shortly after she was denied access to life-saving equipment because her parents couldn't pay 200 rupees, even though her treatment should have been free. The government has announced free neonatal care for all. Now call on Punjab's health department to widely publicise this information so no more infants die due to ignorance:

An innocent baby girl died in the Jalandhar civil hospital shortly after she was denied access to life-saving equipment because her parents couldn't pay 200 rupees. But if we act right now, we can ensure this callous cruelty is never repeated.

The irony is that as a high-risk baby, her treatment should have been free -- yet neither the hospital staff nor the baby's parents knew. Punjab's Chief Minister responded by making care in government hospitals for all newborns free, but unless parents know their rights this harassment will continue. Before his attention shifts from this shocking tragedy, let's insist the state's health department publicise these new rules informing us of our rights.

We can turn this dreadful death into a massive movement to protect vulnerable infants. Sign this petition now urging the Punjab Health Department to create posters announcing the free healthcare. Avaaz will deliver our message directly to the officials there when 50,000 of us sign:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/indias_killer_hospital/?bQwOObb&v=16838

Poor people across India rely on government hospitals but unfortunately there is no one to inform them of their rights. Policies made in government departments in state capitals are rarely properly communicated to hospitals or patients. So while India plans to increase spending on healthcare, tragedies will persist until people are informed of their rights.

The parents of this poor baby girl have done us all a service by speaking out. Let's campaign together so that no baby has to die like this ever again. Let's demand that the Punjab Health Department put up posters in key languages inside hospitals and set up help desks to genuinely assist poor patients.

Sign the petition now and send to others to sign too:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/indias_killer_hospital/?bQwOObb&v=16838

Avaaz members have successfully campaigned from Bahrain to Brazil to hold governments and corporations accountable. Avaaz members recently managed to get 100 Indian labourers released from captivity in Bahrain. It's time for us to come together again to ensure that what happened to this poor couple in Punjab doesn't happen again to other parents.

With hope and determination,

Meredith, Alaphia, Luis, Ian, Ricken, Alex, Rewan and the entire Avaaz team.

MORE INFORMATION

Third probe ordered into infant death (Times of India):
http://www.timesnow.tv/Third-probe-ordered-into-infant-death/articleshow/4407533.cms

Probe raps callous hospital staff for newborn's death (Times of India):
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/Probe-raps-callous-hospital-staff-for-newborns-death/articleshow/15266958.cms

After baby's death, Punjab wakes up to offer free care (Deccan Herald):
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/267540/after-babys-death-punjab-wakes.html

Nurse suspended as probe begins into infant's death (Hindustan Times):
http://www.hindustantimes.com/Punjab/Jalandhar/Nurse-suspended-as-probe-begins-into-infant-s-death/SP-Article1-902925.aspx

Infant dies for Rs. 200 at hospital, government orders probe (ZeeNews.com):
http://zeenews.india.com/news/punjab/infant-dies-for-rs-200-at-hospital-govt-orders-probe_789798.html

Regulating hospitals is health (The Hindu):
http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/article2889880.ece

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Avaaz.org is a 15-million-person global campaign network that works to ensure that the views and values of the world's people shape global decision-making. ("Avaaz" means "voice" or "song" in many languages.) Avaaz members live in every nation of the world; our team is spread across 19 countries on 6 continents and operates in 14 languages. Learn about some of Avaaz's biggest campaigns here, or follow us on Facebook or Twitter.

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