Separated Conjoined Twins Jaga-Kalia to return Odisha soon

Surjit Kumar Dhal, Bhubaneswar: Separated conjoined twins Jaga-Kalia undergoing post surgery treatment at AIIMS at New Delhi, are expected to be shifted to Odisha very soon, Health Minister Nabakishore Das said here today.

 State’s National Health Mission (NHM) Managing Director (MD) Shalini Pandit also said the same at New Delhi.

Das told reporters that National Health Mission (NHM) MD is holding discussion with the AIIMS authorities. An 8-member doctor team will accompany the children the day they are shifted to Odisha.

“They had first asked us for an air ambulance for this purpose. Now they have informed us for transportation by train. However, nothing has been finalized about the shifting date nor the place of admission here, whether AIIMS unit here or Apollo. But, the State Government will bear all the expenses,” Das said.

Pandit told reporters that the AIIMS team is continuing with their medical treatment to Jaga-Kalia. “Today we discussed with them. AIIMS Delhi informed that the kids are now ready to be discharged. They (AIIMS team) will provide us with a medical advisory shortly on the best mode of their transportation. Very shortly decision will be taken on the discharge of the children,” She said.

She said a hospital is being located where their treatment will continue after the shifting.

 “No date has been finalized, but they will be discharged soon. Shifting arrangement will be done by the State Government only after the receipt of the medical advisory from AIIMS team. The team has also confirmed that it will accompany the children during transportation. Soon after returning Odisha, they won’t go back home. They will be under medical care here. Later on, they will be discharged for home,” Pandit said.

Notably, the conjoined twins had been separated after a marathon surgery at AIIMS, New Delhi in October 2017and are under observation since.