Keralan government finally caves; Anitha, a nursing officer, will be sent to the Kozhikode MCH
It has been agreed by the Directorate of Medical Education to assign P B Anitha as the nursing officer at Kozhikode Medical College. The appointment order was made on Saturday by Director of Medical Education Thomas Mathew.
After Anitha came out to help the victim in the Kozhikode Medical College ICU sexual assault case, the health administration ordered her to be moved to Idukki Medical College. Anitha was later reappointed to the Kozhikode Medical College on April 1st, per an order from the High Court. However, the hospital administration ignored the court ruling, claiming technological difficulties. The health minister announced that Anitha had been reappointed to the Kozhikode Medical College after her strike garnered significant attention.
Until the High Court issues a definitive ruling in the matter, the government ordered the Directorates of Medical Education and Health Sciences to go on with Anitha’s employment at Kozhikode Medical College Hospital.
Later, Veena George, the minister of health, gave the authorities instructions to schedule the meeting very away and provide legal counsel. Anitha replied to the news of her re-appointment by saying, “I have been protesting in front of the medical college for the past six days and I will continue the strike until I receive the appointment order.”
MCH instance of sexual assault
M Saseendran, a grade 1 attendee and Vadakara resident, sexually abused a female patient undergoing thyroid surgery on March 18 in the surgical ICU of Kozhikode Medical College Hospital.
Six hospital employees had intimidated the victim, according to Anitha, the nursing officer who testified against the offenders and informed higher authorities. Despite the suspension of the six employees, Anitha was also moved to Idukki.
Reacting to a plea, the Thiruvananthapuram-based Kerala Administrative Tribunal let Anitha to stay on at the Kozhikode Medical College Hospital. However, the administration said that Kozhikode Medical College Hospital was full and Anitha could not be admitted.
By then, someone else had been assigned to Kozhikode. After Anitha went to the High Court, the judge gave her permission to start working on April 1. The hospital administration refused to let her start work, claiming that there were technical difficulties putting the court order into effect. Then Anitha went on strike at the medical facility.
In support of Anitha, the victim of sexual assault also demonstrated while wearing a blindfold, claiming that Veena George, the health minister, was to blame for her inability to recognize their predicament. While visiting Anitha, BJP candidate for Kozhikode Lok Sabha seat M T Ramesh and Leader of the Opposition V D Satheesan declared their support for her struggle.
