KANNUR: The nursing students association defied the district collector’s order to work in the hospitals hit by the nurses’ strike led by the Indian Nurses’ Association (INA) on Monday. As the indefinite strike continued, the nursing students at the College of Nursing at Pariyaram medical college bunked classes and protested on the college campus against collector Mir Mohammad Ali’s order and in solidarity with the INA. The strike that was launched on July 11 has affected nine hospitals, including three of the government, in the district.
The nurses in 12 private hospitals in Kasargod have also been on strike for the last 19 days demanding better wages and working conditions. “We are tomorrow’s nurses. The strike by the nurses’ is for our future also. Hence, we cannot abide by the district collector’s order. Besides, students who are only learning nursing care cannot assist in hospitals,” C. Akhila, a student, said. Kannur district medical officer Dr K. Narayana Naik told DC that patient inflow to major government hospitals had increased. They are flocking to Kannur district hospital, Thalassery general hospital and Taliparamba taluk hospital. The hospitals in the cooperative sector are also witnessing a heavy rush.
In Kasargod, a conciliatory meeting called by district collector K. Jeevan Babu failed as the protestors rejected his request to call off the strike in view of the chief minister’s offer of talks. The patients in Kasargod will have to depend on hospitals in Mangalore which is 50 km away. Meanwhile, the Human Rights Protection Mission on Monday formed a collective of the parents of the nurses across the state in Taluk level and the first of its kind was launched in Thamassery taluk. Mission state president inaugurated the collective, offering their support to the ongoing agitation by the nurses.
