A team of Turkish medical professionals successfully separated conjoined Pakistani twins, who were born with their heads fused, in a 14-hour-long surgery conducted in two phases.
Turkiye’s state-run Anadolu news agency reported that the surgery of Mirha and Minal was conducted by a team of 60 professionals at at Bilkent City Hospital in Ankara.
The twins along their parents travelled to Turkiye for treatment after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan approved their plea as they were unable to get an appropriate treatment in Pakistan.
After being contacted by London-based pediatric neurosurgeon Owase Jeelani, Erdogan assured the doctor that the babies’ treatment would be conducted in Turkiye, as per Anadolu.
The Pakistani family reached Turkiye in May this year where the twins were kept under medical observation.
The 11-month-old twin girls underwent the surgery in July, resolving the issue.
The hospital head of the Department of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Namik Yasar Ozbek told the Turkish news agency: “The babies had some issues with sitting and hand movements due to their conjoined state.”
“Post-surgery, our neurologists, physical therapists and neurodevelopmental specialists resolved these issues,” he added.
“The babies are now doing very well, starting to use their hands and arms, and gaining head control. In 10 days, they will celebrate their first birthdays separately,” Ozbek said.
The parents of the twin have thanked the Turkish president for helping them with the treatment of their children.
