Dr Kafeel offers help in Nipah virus outbreak, Kerala CM accepts his request

Kozhikode: After Nipah virus has claimed 10 lives in Kerala’s Kozhikode district, Pediatrician and former Head of Encephalitis Ward of BRD Medical College, Dr Kafeel Ahmed Khan, has offered his help to Calicut Medical College.

Dr Kafeel tagged Kerala Chief Minister Mr Pinarayi Vijayan in a Twitter post saying: “Disturbed with mortality due to Nipah Virus. I request Kerala Chief minister Mr Pinarayi Vijayan to allow me to serve at Calicut Medical College to save innocent lives. Sister Lini is an inspiration and I am more than willing to sacrifice my life for the noble cause. @vijayanpinarayi.”

Mr Vijayan acknowledged the tweet in a Facebook post and accepted Dr Kafeel’s help. He also requested others who were keen to extend their support in the noble cause, by asking them to contact the Director of Health Services or Superintendent of Kozhikode Medical College Hospital.

Dr Kafeel was arrested in connection with the death of over 30 infants due to lack of oxygen in BRD hospital in August last year and has been lodged in a Gorakhpur jail since September 2, 2017. However, after spending nearly eight months in jail, he was finally granted bail by Allahabad High Court on April 25.

Acknowledging the crisis, Kerala CM on Monday had informed that the state government is closely monitoring the outbreak of Nipah virus in the region and taking every possible step to prevent its further spread.

(ANI and TNM inputs)