The Deadly Nipah virus, which claimed the lives of 17 people and pressed the Kerala government into a state of medical emergency, also threw a story that left many eyes moist and won hearts all over the world. The story belongs to nurse Lini, who died after contracting Nipah virus, in the line of her duty. Lini was a nurse at the Perambra EMS Memorial Cooperative Hospital located at Kozhikode district. Nurse Lini had attended to one of the earliest Nipah virus affected patients in Kerala.
The Kerela government has now offered a job to Lini’s husband, as a gesture of gratitude for the late nurse’s contribution in fighting the deadly virus.
A senior administrative officer of the state Health Department on Monday passed an order which stated that the state government would be offering a job to Lini’s husband, Sajeesh. He has been given the position of a lower division clerk and will be working in an office that falls under the Kozhikode Medical Officer.
The Health Department has asked the District Medical Officer to inform it whenever Sajeesh joins the office.
The decision to give a job to Nurse Lini’s husband, Sajeesh, had been announced in May by Kerala’s Health Minister KK Shylaja but the official order was passed on Monday. Sajeesh used to work in Bahrain, and his family including wife Lini and children lived in Kozhikode. Sajeesh has not gone to Bahrain as he is with the children post Lini’s death.
A compensation of Rs 10 lakh each was also declared by the state government for Lini’s two children.
The story of nurse Lini became a symbol of hope and service after a handwritten note which she wrote to her husband reached media. Lini had written in the letter that she was on her way and heartbreakingly said that she wouldn't be able to meet her husband Sajeesh.
She had also asked Sajeesh to take care of the children and told him to take them along with him and not to live alone. She had also asked Sajeesh and the children not to come and see her dead body as it would put the children in danger of contracting the virus. The World Health Organisation (WHO) had also paid glowing tributes to nurse Lini Puthussery, and WHO’s Health Workforce Director Jim Campbell had tweeted saying: “Remember them, lest we forget: Razan al-Najjar (Gaza); Lini Puthussery (India); Salome Karwah (Liberia). #WomeninGlobalHealth, #NotATarget."
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 17, 2018 04:47 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).