Removing Dr K J Reena from Health Department Director post is a good decision, she is an irresponsible officer: K B Ganesh Kumar

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Former minister K B Ganesh Kumar said that removing Dr K J Reena from the post of Health Department Director was a good decision. He alleged that Reena was an irresponsible officer and had even failed to follow the instructions of a legislative committee. Ganesh Kumar said these were matters he knew personally and added that Health Minister K Muraleedharan’s statement that Reena did not respect him could be true. He also alleged that the Health Minister had failed in Nipah virus prevention efforts.

Dr K J Reena was removed from the post of Health Department Director the other day. Dr V Meenakshi, Additional Director, has been given the new responsibility. She has been assigned full additional charge as the Director of Health Services. Dr Reena has now been appointed as the Director of the Ernakulam Public Health Laboratory.

Reports had earlier suggested that the transfer was due to the Health Minister’s dissatisfaction with Reena. It was reported that the minister was unhappy with her decision to take leave during the outbreak of an infectious disease. The transfer came after Nipah cases were confirmed in Kozhikode and deaths were reported due to Shigella infection.