Conjoined twins out of danger, leave ICU after surgery

Dennis Tarus

November 14, 2016 11:08 AM

The conjoined twins who were successfully separated at the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) two weeks ago are finally out of the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

According to the KNH doctors, the two, Blessing and Favour, had shown remarkable improvement after their surgery a fortnight ago.

KNH CEO Dr Thomas Mutie said that the two are no longer on life support and are feeding on their own, moving their limbs and even communicating verbally.

The two girls were admitted in the Paediatric Surgical Ward, KNH, since their birth on September 4, 2014 and were successfully separated on November 1, by a team of specialists from KNH and the University of Nairobi School of Health Sciences.

They were conjoined in the lower region of the spine and shared the anal canal, the cerebral spinal fluid, pelvic and pelvic organs, and the bowels.

Complicated surgery

The surgery costed Sh160 million and took 23 hours to complete.

According to the chairman of University of Nairobi's Department of Surgery, Peter Ndaguatha, the operation was a milestone achievement in Kenya and there will be no need in the future for people to go for such abroad.

President Uhuru Kenyatta was among those who congratulated the medical team for their outstanding work, dedication and a great sense of civic duty.

The surgery was one of the continent's first giving testimony to the vast improvement in the quality and capacity of Kenya's public hospitals.

Dennis Tarus