Patnaik praises AIIMS doctors for separating twins

Bhubaneswar Oct 26 (IANS) Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday heaped praise on a team of doctors at New Delhi s AIIMS for successfully separating craniopagus (joined at the head) infant twins.

The 28-month-old twins from Odisha were separated after a 16-hour surgery at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) on Wednesday.

"Glad to learn of successful separation of Jaga Kalia at #AIIMS . Congrats to the doctors team. Pray to Lord Jagannath for speedy recovery " Patnaik said in a tweet.

Ashok Kumar Mahapatra Chief of the Neurosciences Centre in AIIMS also extended his gratitude to the Chief Minister for extending financial support for the surgery.

"We thank Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for granting Rs 1 crore towards the surgery of the conjoined twins Jaga-Balia from the Chief Minister s Relief Fund " said Mohapatra in New Delhi.

Meanwhile people in several parts of Odisha are offering praying for their speedy recovery.

The twins hailing from a poor family in Milipada village of Phiringia block in the tribal-dominated Kandhamal district were taken to AIIMS on July 13.

A team of 40 doctors had conducted a 20-hour first surgery on them on August 20.

--IANS
cd/him/vd