Conjoined twins wait for support to lead separate lives in Kandhamal

Phulbani: Even after two years, parents of conjoined twins at Melupada village under Phiringia Block of Kandhamal district are still unable to go ahead with the surgery to separate their sons due to financial constraint.

The twins Honey and Singh were born conjoined at the head on April 9, 2015, to Bhuan Kanhar and Pushpanjali Kanhar at Phiringia health centre. Doctors had assured Bhuan and his family that the twins can be separated through operation.

Bhuan and Pushpanjali admitted their children to SCB Medical College in Cuttack by selling their properties and valuables. After waiting for the required treatment at the hospital for four months, they were sent back by the doctor advising them to take the twins to New Delhi.

But the poor family is unable to gather the amount required to take their children to New Delhi.

Talking to OTV, Pushpanjali said, "We stayed in Cuttack for four months and five days where the doctor kept on saying that the surgery will be done soon. After he was transferred a new doctor came who told that he cannot perform the surgery and said to take our children to Delhi."

The district administration is also aware about the rare condition of the twins. An anganwadi worker has also been assigned to take care of them. But no step has been taken to give separate lives to the children.

Anganwadi worker Nalini Kanhar said, "The parents of the twins are poor, where will they get the money for the treatment, so they came back to their home from the hospital. The twins can be separated if government lends support."

Chief District Medical Officer of Kandhamal Sapneswar Gadanayak said, "It is a case of Craniopagus where success rate of operation is very low. They have been provided support to go to AIIMS but for whatever reason, they are not going."

Pushpanjali is currently waiting for government support to perform surgery of her children.