CAMPAIGNERS calling for a doctor to be struck off the medical register for her handling of the case of a Newport baby who died 24 hours after being wrongly discharged from a city hospital, are planning a candlelit vigil for the child.
The vigil in memory of Aleesha Evans, who died in August 2006, will take place outside the Royal Gwent Hospital on Cardiff Road, Newport, on Friday evening, June 18.
It is organised by campaigners who want stronger sanctions taken against the doctor - Dr Salawati Abdul Salam - who discharged nine-month-old Aleesha from the Royal Gwent after diagnosing an infection treatable with Calpol and Nurofen.
She died the following day of multiple organ failure, triggered by blood poisoning caused by meningococcal infection.
The Justice For Aleesha campaign has held a march through Newport calling for the doctor to be struck off, and plans in the near future to take its protest to the General Medical Council in London.
But organiser Stacey Routley, from Newport, said the vigil is all about remembering Aleesha.
"The campaign is about getting justice for her, but that involves a lot of protest against the doctor," said Ms Routley, who began the campaign in March after the GMC suspended Dr Abdul Salam for four months after a fitness to practice panel heard of a series of misdiagnoses and poor performance, including another case in which a patient died.
"We want to get back to Aleesha, focus on her, remember her, because she is the inspiration for all of this.
"The vigil will begin at 7pm and run until around midnight. We're hoping people will come along throughout the evening for a few minutes of reflection."
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