Parents Want AIIMS Care For Twins Jaga-Kalia

Bhubaneswar: Parents of the separated conjoined twins of Kandhamal are not keen to shift them from All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, to Odisha.

“Jaga is doing fine. He is playing and moving around freely. But Kalia has not recovered fully. He is still being provided liquid food through tubes. Besides, the skin grafted on his head has not completely healed. Taking all these into consideration, I feel his health condition will deteriorate further if shifted to Odisha. So in my opinion, the AIIMS authorities should allow them to stay there for another next two months,” father of the twins Bhuyan Kanhar told mediapersons here on Saturday.

If they are discharged from AIIMS-New Delhi, arrangements should be made for them at AIIMS in Bhubaneswar, he added.

Health and Family Welfare minister Pratap Jena said AIIMS authorities have been requested to keep the twins for at least two more months till their health condition improves.

The separated conjoined twins of Milipada village under Phiringia block in tribal-dominated Kandhamal district, were admitted to AIIMS-New Delhi on July 13 last year after initial check-up at SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack.

Earlier, AIIMS neurosurgery department head Prof Ashok Mohapatra had informed the media that a team of doctors would be formed for their treatment and the surgery undertaken only after the experts felt that condition of the twins was suitable and the operation feasible.

The Odisha government had provided Rs 1 crore financial assistance while Kandhamal administration gave Rs 1 lakh for their surgery. The Kandhamal Collector had also requested all government employees to donate a day’s salary for their treatment. Apart from this, the state Health department had also assured to facilitate their treatment and bear all the expenses of the family at AIIMS.

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 last year.