An honour well-deserved: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan honouring R.S. Gopakumar, health officer attached to the Kozhikode Corporation, at a civic reception to felicitate health workers and others who helped contain Nipah infection, in Kozhikode on Sunday. | Photo Credit: K_RAGESH more-in The first phase of work on the virology institute being set up in Kerala will be completed this year itself, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said. He was here on Sunday to felicitate health workers and others who helped contain Nipah outbreak in the State. Mr. Vijayan said the government had been giving due attention to outbreak of infectious diseases in the State much before Nipah cases were reported. The decision to set up an institution to address the issue had been taken much before, he claimed. Complimenting the Health Department for its efforts to contain Nipah outbreak, the Chief Minister said: “We have proved that we are ready to face any emergency.” Mr. Vijayan added that the health apparatus in the State could identify the infection in the preliminary stage itself much before it could wreak havoc on the people here. “Kerala was well known worldwide for our efforts in areas such as reduction of Infant Mortality Rate and Maternal Mortality Rate and ensuring primary healthcare and essential medicines at affordable rates. The efforts to contain Nipah outbreak too could be added to the list as international organisations such as the World Health Organisation have appreciated our work,” Mr. Vijayan pointed out. Those honoured included Health Minister K.K. Shylaja, senior officials of the Health Department, staff of the Government Medical College, Kozhikode, and health staff of the Kozhikode Corporation, among others.

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