Jan 2006, India: A 7-day old baby was charred to death due to a short circuit in a neonatal unit in Niloufer Hospital, robbing parents of their joy and hopes. The incubator in which the baby was kept caught fire. The parents blamed the doctors stating that the incident had happened due to negligence of the hospital staff while the health workers argued that four other babies in the unit were saved due to prompt action of the medical staff who switched off the power supply. The poor mother’s cry is lost in a country with a population of over a billion where the death of one single baby girl would mean nothing at all. But I bet the poor mother would dare to become pregnant again.

July 2005, India: Ultaf Bi, a resident of Savali village in Karnataka presents to a primary healthcare centre in her village, with complaints of stomach ache. She was ordered to receive an injection in addition to some tablets. While administering the injection, the needle broke and she was asked to visit a private hospital for further treatment. Although a small part of the needle that remained in her arm was removed, she now suffers form paralysis due to nerve damage.

January 2006, India: An emaciated old man lies confined to a dilapidated charpoy at Lok Biradari Prakalp, set up by two doctors who were determined to devote their lives to help a tribal community which has seen nothing but poverty, malnutrition and disease. The patient’s faint but strange wailing is sufficient enough to stir the soul of any person with a compassion to his fellow human beings. Despite the best effort of the doctors, the old man receives only 2 bottles of saline, while actually he needs eight. The next day morning, the faithful wife can be seen holding on to the mortal remains of her husband.