Two Abu Dhabi based women have stepped in to sponsor the education of the two children of nurse Lini, following her tragic demise after attending to the first victim of the Nipah outbreak in Kerala.
The women – Santhi Promoth and Jyothy Palat – who are the executive directors of Avitis Institute of Medical Sciences in Nemara, Palakkad, said that they would cover the educational expenses of the children, aged 5 and 2, starting from this academic year.
They have reportedly got in touch with Lini's family and promised that the children's education would be taken care of until a professional degree or a postgraduate course. The official documents regarding for the sponsorship will also be handed over to the family, residing in Kozhikode, soon.
The women read about Lini's demise in local newspapers and contacted the family. Being from the healthcare sector themselves, they said that they felt the need to help as they realised the big contribution of nurses.
Lini Puthussery has been hailed as Kerala's hero after treating the first victim of the Nipah virus in the EMS Memorial hospital in Perambra, where the outbreak was first recorded. Lini had taken care of Mohammed Sadik, the first victim of the Nipah Virus in Kerala. According to Lini's husband Sajeesh, Lini had developed fever a day or two after Sadik passed away.
On Monday, the 31-year-old nurse succumbed to the virus after tending to the patient day and night.
Lini was kept in the isolation ward and buried soon after her death. Her family was not allowed to see her body as officials feared spread of the virus.
On her last day, Lini had written a letter to her husband which read, "I think I am almost on my way; I don't think I'll be able to meet you. Please look after our children. Take them with you to the Gulf; don't be all alone like our father, please."
Following Lini's death, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan wrote on Facebook, “The loss of Lini, who had sacrificed her life for nursing a patient, is a grief for all of us. Lini’s sacrifice is incomparable. It is painful that Lini met with this tragedy while she was sincerely doing her duty. We, the people of the state, share the pain and loss of Lini’s family, friends and colleagues.”
The state government has awarded a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to Lini's husband Sajeesh, who worked in Bahrain and flew down to Perambra, Kozhikode. The state has also guaranteed a government job to Sajeesh and had picked up the medical expenses of Lini's treatment.
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