Kozhikode: Lini Puthussery, the nurse who died while treating a Nipah virus-patient at Perambra Taluk Hospital, Kozhikode, in May last year, is a torch-bearer to the entire fraternity in the health sector. Now the Kerala Government Hospital Development Society (KGHDS) employees union has instituted an award in her name to an outstanding person in the sector. The 'Sister Lini Memorial Award' consisting of a cash prize of Rs 10,001 will be given away by Health Minister K.K Shailaja at a remembrance meeting at Thiruvananthapuram Press Club at 3 p.m. on May 21.
"This award is an encouragement to the hospital workers. Nominations will be invited from each district and the committee will select one" said union state president A. Pradeep Kumar MLA in a press release here.
Lini Puthussery showed exemplary dedication and professionalism to provide relief to the Nipah-affected patient. Finally she herself developed the symptoms and died on My 21. Some five thousand employees working in hospitals often with low wages or little job security are always at risk.
Their only relief is the KGHDS employees union in which employees from primary health centres to medical colleges are members.
Through many agitations, they could get major gains like weekly off, festival off, bonus and maternity leave without salary. But private hospitals are reluctant to recognise their services. The award will be an encouragement to them, said the release.
The official programme will be presided over by Mr Pradeep Kumar. Mr B. Sathyan MLA, trade union leaders V.Sivankutty and C. Jayanbabu, Dr. M.Sharmmad, Dr. C.Raghunathan Nair, Dr. Preethi James, Dr. A.Santhosh Kumar and other union leaders will attend the function. Remembrance programmes will also be held throughout the state.
