Kozhikode: After successfully controlling the Nipah fever outbreak, the Kerala government recently decided to reward the 61 government health personnel in Kozhikode and Malappuram districts who were in the forefront of managing the disease. On Sunday, the department of health organised a function here to honour Lini Puthussery, a nurse, who had died of the Nipah virus on May 21. A poignant letter written by Lini from her deathbed had gone viral on social media.
At the function on Sunday, her two-year-old son, Siddharth, who was accompanied by his maternal aunt and father, was the centre of attraction.
As the audience listened in rapt attention to the speakers who recalled the demise of his young mother, Siddharth was running around the hall As the audience clapped, he joined in, sitting on his aunt Libi's lap.
Lini's husband Sajeesh and the family attended the function without the elder child, Rithul, who was sick. Lini's sisters Liji and Libi, and Libi's husband K K Shaiju attended.
Health Minister K K Shylaja invited Libi to the stage before the programme started, and took Siddharth in her hands. Sajeesh had a seat on the dais. Libi and Siddharth were outside the hall when Sajeesh was called to accept the honour for Lini. Later the whole family, including the child, posed for a photo on the stage with the minister.
Libi and Shaiju are at Lini's Chembanoda house to look after Rithul and Siddharth. Libi's children Adidev and Alamkrutha and Liji's daughter Annu are also at the house.
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