CM meets Jaga-Kalia at AIIMS, prays for speedy recovery

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at AIIMS in New Delhi

Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Sunday met separated
conjoined twins Jaga and Kalia at All India Institute of Medical
Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, and prayed for their speedy recovery.

The Chief Minister also interacted with the parents of the siblings
and assured them of all help from the state government.

“I have just been to see the twins Jaga and Kalia. They seem to be
getting on very well. I thanked the doctors for the remarkable job
that they are doing and I also pray with the people of our state for
their speedy recovery and good health,” Naveen said following his
visit to the hospital.

The craniopagus twins (joined at the head) were separated after an 11-hour surgery conducted by a special team of doctors, comprising 20 surgeons, at AIIMS on
October 25.

The Chief Minister provided both the children with some soft toys to play with. He also met their parents, Bhuyan Kanhar and Pushpanjali Kanhar, and enquired about their general condition and well-being of Jaga and Kalia. Both the parents expressed their gratitude to Naveen for all the support that has been provided to them by the Odisha Government. He assured the parents that the Odisha Government will be happy to provide any further assistance as may be required by them.

Naveen further discussed the health condition of the children and about their ongoing treatment with Director, AIIMS, Prof Randeep Guleria and Prof Ashok Mohapatra. The Professors explained that both the children are recuperating well and are being constantly monitored. They said while Jaga is far more stable, Kalia is still under intensive care and is improving gradually and they hoped that he will also stabilize fast.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik with neurosurgeon Dr Ashok Mohapatra at AIIMS in New Delhi on Sunday

The Chief Minister thanked Prof Guleria and Prof Mohapatra and the entire team of doctors for performing an incredible job and for their untiring efforts in saving the precious lives of the two little children from Odisha. He also assured the Director, AIIMS, that the state government would be pleased to provide all necessary support for the full treatment of the children and advised that they should be provided the best care and treatment.