The team that helped control Nipah outbreak in Kozhikode district will be honoured at an event to be held at Tagore Centenary Hall in the city on Sunday. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will be the chief guest at the function.
Mayor Thottathil Raveendran, chairman of the organising committee, told the media here on Friday that 275 persons who were directly involved in the mission would be honoured.
“The way we controlled Nipah was appreciated by the world. Though 16 lives were lost, the Central team admitted that the situation would have been much worse had it been in any other State,” the Mayor said, adding that the detection of infection by doctors at Baby Memorial Hospital was the turning point. The dedicated efforts by various teams later helped in effectively controlling the spread of the second wave of infection, he said.
District Panchayat President Babu Parasseri said there were Ministers to cleaning workers among those who would be honoured. “We formed an efficient network involving various departments and worked together,” he said. Besides health workers and official teams, ambulance drivers and crematorium staff will be honoured, he added.
The family members of Lini Puthusseri, the nurse who died of Nipah infection, and the two survivors will be present at the event. The function will begin at 6 p.m. with Dramagics by Magician Pradeep Hudinho. The Chief Minister will arrive at 7 p.m.
Health dept’s honour
Meanwhile, the Department of Health is honouring the team at an event to be held at Nalanda Auditorium on Sunday. Doctors who were noted for their exemplary service in 2017-18 will also be honoured on the occasion by Minister for Health and Social Justice K.K. Shylaja. Excise and Labour Minister T.P. Ramakrishnan will preside over the function, while Transport Minister A.K. Saseendran will be the guest of honour.