Bhutan’s first recorded conjoined twins will leave for Melbourne, Australia today for  surgery, according to a press release from Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital in Thimphu.

Born by caesarean-section on July 13 last year at Phuentsholing General Hospital, the identical twin girls were joined at the thoraco-abdominal region which relates to the thorax and the abdomen.

“The twins are now running 13 months of age and are healthy and beautiful-looking girls,” the press release states.

Before deciding that the surgery to separate the twins would be done at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Australia, it states that a pediatric Surgeon with JDWNRH, Dr Karma Sherub, had many discussions with Paediatric surgeons from Singapore, Australia, and India.

According to the press release, Children First Foundation in Melbourne, Australia would finance the travel and the entire cost for the surgery.

Health ministry and JDWNRH would depute a nurse as medical escort to facilitate travel of the mother and the twins to Melbourne in Australia. “The nurse will accompany the family and return after settling the mother and twins in Australia as this is their first travel abroad,” it states.

Dr Karma Sherub will also travel to Melbourne when the twins are ready to be operated on and observe the operation.

“The health ministry and JDWNRH would like to wish the twin for a successful surgery,” states the press release.

Dechen Tshomo

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