The Principal of the Government Medical College, Ernakulam, has asked the Community Medicine department to find the possible cause of infection during the feast in the college hostel that made many students sick.
The New Year in the medical college was all about food poisoning sickness reported in students a couple of days ago. The Principal informed that internal assessment examination scheduled for Monday had been postponed while the other examinations later in the week would continue as scheduled.
The academic boycott by the faculty that had been on since the last ten days would not affect the examinations or the practicals, said Dr. Jacob Baby, president of the teachers’ association.
There is no move by the government so far to make the staff part of the government establishment. The faculty and other employees had marked the anniversary of government takeover last month with protest programmes.
The government is also yet to come up with a plan to fill in the vacancies in the college where there is a severe shortage. At least 26 teachers are needed to reach within the norms of Medical Council of India besides 50 per cent shortage of junior residents.
Dr. Praveenlal K., Principal, Medical College, said filling up the vacancies of junior residents was being taken up at the college-level.
The food poisoning event has led to a cleanliness drive on the hostel and the college premises. The college will be outsourcing the work to clear up the premises. Students were also taking the initiative after the District Collector visited the place, said the Principal.
The college had notified the Public Works Department for a number of worksthat needed to be taken up on a priority basis, said the Principal.
