KOZHIKODE: Despite their stellar work during the Nipah virus outbreak, the entire Revenue Department team, including Kozhikode District Collector who fought from the forefront, has been sidelined by the Health Department. While the Directorate of Health Services is all geared up to felicitate people who offered selfless service in fighting the Nipah outbreak, not a single staff in the Revenue Department has found a place in the list.
The Directorate of Health Services has planned an event on July 1 to honour its Director Dr R L Saritha, District Medical Officer (DMO) Dr V Jayashree, Medical College Principal Dr R Rajendran, Medical College Superintendent Dr K G Sajeeth Kumar, Corporation Health Officer Dr R S Gopakumar, virologist Dr G Arun Kumar, District Animal Husbandry Officer Dr A C Mohandas, Dr A S Anoop and Dr Jayakrishnan of Baby Memorial Hospital, ambulance drivers, nurses and cleaning staff.
Though officers from various departments, including health, local self-government and animal husbandry were selected for the programme, officers with the district administration were kept away from the event.
Expressing their displeasure, officials of the Revenue Department have questioned the criteria for selecting people for the felicitation. “All the officers and entire machinery of the Revenue Department had worked day and night to contain the virus outbreak.
The District Collector was at the forefront. Unfortunately, not even a single officer of the department has been listed for the function, “ said a revenue officer. Ever since the Nipah virus was confirmed, the District Collector and his team were working to ensure an efficient support system for health officers to handle the situation. “All wings under the district administration were in full swing and made root clear for the smooth functioning of the Health Department. With timely intervention, the Revenue Department had successfully managed to ensure required medical equipment in the crucial situation,” said the officer.
The district administration played vital role in coordinating private and public sector health mechanism. Nipah cell, set up to review daily developments, was the initiative of the district administration.Collector U V Jose said his office has not received any intimation about the event. “I do not have exact information about the felicitation meet or persons selected for the event”, said the Collector. DMO Dr V Jayashree told Express decisions regarding the event were taken at the state level. The felicitation meet will be inaugurated by Health Minister K K Shylaja.