Kerala Nurse Sacrifices Life To Treat Nipah-Infected Patients, Govt Announces Compensation

The outbreak of Nipah virus has killed as many as 12 people in Kerala. Among the people who died of this deadly disease is one brave nursing assistant Lini Puthussery. She died after contracting the infection while attending to the family of three who were infected with the virus.

Survived by her husband and two sons, she left behind an emotional message for her husband, “Don’t think I will be able to meet you again. You should look after our children well.”

To avoid further spread of the infection, Lini’s body was cremated in an electrical crematorium even without handing it over to her family.

“Nurse Lini died in our battle against the Nipah virus. She died trying to save patients infected by it. She was just 31 and was a mother of two little kids. If she is not a martyr, I don’t know who is,” tweeted Dr Deepu Sebin, chief executive of DailyRounds, a network of doctors.

A nurse who took care of a #NIPHAVirus patients & succumbed to same. Her body was cremated with extreme urgency to prevent any possible spread and even her family could not pay due respect. Respect to Lini &a reminder that healthcare workers take immense personal risk to serve us pic.twitter.com/4kzESu6j4J

— Dr. Deepu Sebin (@deepusebin) May 21, 2018

Already suffering from fever, 31-year-old Lini stepped up and reported to the hospital since it was understaffed. Before leaving for the hospital, she left a small note for her husband asking him to take of their children, “Sajeeshetta, Am almost on the way….Don’t think I will be able to meet you. Sorry. You should look after our children well. Poor Kunju, you should take him to the Gulf once. Should not be alone like our father. Plz …With lots of love.”

Lini’s husband Sajeesh who works as an accountant in Bahrain returned when his brother informed him that Lini was in the hospital. He arrived in Kozhikode on Sunday but she was already in the intensive care unit then.

The Kerala government has announced financial assistance of Rs 10 lakh for each of Lini’s two sons, aged seven and two. The administration has also offered to provide her husband – Sajeesh – with a government job if he was willing to stay in Kerala.

The Logical Indian take

Lini, with no regard for her own health and safety, performed her duties. This sense of selflessness is a virtue of great men and women. The Logical Indian salutes Lini’s selflessness and commitment. Our heart goes out to her husband and her two young sons.