76 medical professionals to be honoured; 61 of them will be eligible for an additional increment, 15 will be awarded with one sovereign of gold
Seventeen persons had died of Nipah in the northern Kerala districts of Kozhikode and Malappuram in May this year. (File photo: IANS)
The Kerala government has decided to honour 76 medical professionals for their dedicated and committed service during the Nipah virus outbreak.
At a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday, the government decided to give an additional increment to at least 61 government health personnel in Kozhikode and Malappuram districts for rendering exemplary service to contain the deadly Nipah virus outbreak.
Besides, 12 junior residents and three senior residents would be given one sovereign (7.98 grams) of gold each in recognition of their services.
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Among the 61 persons eligible for the additional increment are four assistant professors, 19 staff nurses, seven nursing assistants, 17 cleaning staff, four hospital attendants, two health inspectors, and three lab technicians.
A statement issued by the government said the gesture was in appreciation of the valuable service rendered by the health personnel, who did not care for their own personal safety while fighting the virus.
All 76 medical professionals will be honoured at the Kozhikode Medical College Hospital.
The state will also institute an award in memory of nurse Lini Puthussery, who contracted Nipah virus while serving her patients at the Perambra Taluk hospital and died, for the best nurse in the government sector.
As many as 17 persons had died of Nipah in the districts of Kozhikode and Malappuram in northern Kerala in May this year.
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