Twins Jaga-Kalia to stay at AIIMS Delhi for a while. Here’s why

New Delhi: Odisha’s separated conjoined twins Jaga and Kalia, who are currently undergoing treatment at AIIMS, New Delhi, are most likely to stay at the hospital for a while as Kalia has not fully recovered, said Odisha Health Minister Pratap Jena today after meeting the duo at the medical here.

“Condition of Jaga has improved a lot and he is fine now. However, Kalia has not completely recovered. We have requested the AIIMS authorities to keep the two until both of them get well,” said Jena.

“A team of doctors from Odisha discussed with the AIIMS doctors regarding the health condition of the twins and decision regarding their discharge from the hospital will be taken later,” the minister said.

“Though the twins are in a dischargeable condition now, Kalia needs nursing care but has started consuming food,” said Girija Rath, Doctor, AIIMS, New Delhi.

Worth mentioning, the minister was accompanied by a five-member expert team comprising of Sanjeeb Mishra, HOD, Neurosurgery, SCB Medical College & Hospital; Saroj Satapathy, Superintendent, Sishu Bhavan; Rashmi Mohanty, Associate Professor, Medicine, AIIMS, Bhubaneswar; Prithviraj Singh, Assistant Professor, Plastic Surgery, SCBMCH and Jagmohan Mishra, Professor, Surgery, SCBMCH.

Notably, the craniopagus conjoined twins hailing from Milipada village in Kandhamal district were separated by a team of doctors after a 21-hour-long surgery at AIIMS, New Delhi in October, last year. The historic surgery had created a new chapter in Indian medical science.