The following reports appeared in the Hindustan Times and DNA on the solidarity protest held in Bangalore to observe International Day of action for Legal Abortion in Ireland following the death of Savitha Halappanavar.
Bangalore holds candlelight vigil to condemn Savita’s death
People in Bangalore held a candle light vigil late on Wednesday to condemn the death of woman dentist Savita Halappanavar in an Irish hospital after she was denied an abortion.
Halappanavar who was admitted to University Hospital Galway in the west of Ireland in severe pain, on October 21, asked for a termination of her pregnancy after doctors told her the baby would not survive, according to her husband Praveen.
The foetus was surgically removed when its heartbeat stopped days later, but Halappanavar’s family believe the delay contributed to the blood poisoning that killed the 31-year-old.
Halappanavar died of septicaemia on October 28, a week after miscarrying 17 weeks into her pregnancy.
One of the activists at the vigil, Jagdish Chandra condemned Halappanavar’s death and extended support to a woman’s right to decide termination of her foetus.
“Many political activists, human rights organisations, transgender activists, LGBT activists and many progressive people have unison have condemned the murder on Savita Halappanavar in Ireland. Today’s protest is part of an international day of action which is organised in the entire Europe to demand legal abortion facilities for every woman in the world,” said Chandra.
Abortion remains an extremely divisive issue in Ireland, an overwhelmingly Roman Catholic country, which has some of the world’s most restrictive laws on medical terminations.
The Irish government had pledged on November 15 to clarify its abortion laws after the death of Halappanavar.
The Irish health authority (HSE) has launched an inquiry, which the health minister said must “stand up to the scrutiny of the world.”
Earlier, the leaders of India’s main opposition, Bharatiya Janata Party had met the Irish Ambassador to India, Feilim McLaughlin, in New Delhi and registered their protest.
Source: The Hindustan Times
Candlelight Vigil held for Savita Halappanavar in Bangalore
As part of the International Day of Action, a candlelight vigil was organised on Wednesday by representatives of the New Socialist Alternative to remember Savita Halappanavar, the Indian dentist who lost her life after the doctors in Ireland allegedly refused to terminate her pregnancy despite complications.
Arun, a member of the group, said: “Savita developed septicaemia after she was refused a termination of a 17-week old foetus and went through days of pain and agony. We are here to make a change in such healthcare policies.”
New Socialist Alternative has urged the government to issue directives to hospitals to ensure that requests for termination for women whose health or life is endangered are acted upon quickly so that Savita’s fate is never repeated. “Legislation should be made to stop such practices. Increased public funding to focus on women’s health is also part of our demands,” said Narasimha Murthy, another member. The group called for a sustained campaign for the availability of free, legal and safe abortion facilities for all women who require it. “We also want to end the influence of religion in health and education systems,” Murthy said.
Source: DNA
