Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday requested Union Health Minister JP Nadda to direct the New Delhi All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) authorities to continue treatment of the separated conjoined twins Jaga and Kalia until they become fit enough to leave the hospital.
Patnaik, in a letter to Nadda, said, “The professional team at AIIMS, New Delhi had conducted an extremely rare and difficult surgery last year for separating the craniopagus twins, Jaga and Kalia, who hail from the tribal district of Kandhamal in Odisha.”
“The State Government has been regularly sending teams of specialists to AIIMS, New Delhi to review their condition. Our specialists have opined that the twins are recovering well but have not yet attained stable health condition on account of their being underweight and neurologically impaired. The twins have not become fit enough for home care,” the CM said.
He said it is learnt that the Department of Neurology, AIIMS, New Delhi is pressing to discharge the babies unilaterally against the views of a team of specialists from Odisha and despite the request of the State Government to continue their treatment.
“The State is fully committed to bear all medical and related expenses for continuing treatment of the twins at AIIMS, New Delhi,” Patnaik added.