Tofa, Tahura being taken to DMCH

Tofa and Tahura, the separated conjoined twins, are being brought to Dhaka Medical College Hospital again from Gaibandha after one of them suddenly fell ill.

They were crossing Sirajganj when the report was filed around 8:00pm, the girls' mother Shahida Begum told The Daily Star.

They were taken to Gaibandha General Hospital today as Tahura has been suffering from fever and vomiting for the last week, she said.

Local doctors contacted DMCH’s Paediatrics Surgery Professor Shahnoor Islam around 1:00pm and referred them to DMCH, Shahida added.

 “The condition of Tofa and Tahura seems somewhat complex and they were referred to DMCH for better treatment,” said Dr ABM Abu Hanif, in-charge of Civil Surgeon of Gaibandha.

Later, they left for Dhaka around 4:00pm.

DMCH Professor Shahnoor, who has supervised the treatment of the infants, said, “Tahura is sick as the prescribed medicine may not be working properly.”

 “We hope it’s not a major problem. They have been asked to come here. They will be admitted for better treatment,” she added.

The babies were born on September 29 last year in a remote village in Paschim Dinia of Sundarganj upazila with the help of a local midwife. Shahida and her husband Raju Mia were not aware of having twins, since Shahida did not go through any ultrasonography (USG) procedure during her pregnancy.

Confused, the couple did not know what to do in such a situation. After five days, they took the conjoined twins to Gaibandha Sadar Hospital as their abdomens started to swell failing to pass stool. The hospital authorities referred the babies to DMCH the next day. 

As the babies were too sensitive to undergo a major surgery, the DMCH doctors then conducted surgeries in the abdomens for letting the stool pass for the time being. The couple were then instructed to bring back the babies to the hospital when they turn six months old.

After six months, the babies were admitted to the hospital again. But the condition was still not favourable for conducting a surgery. Therefore, the doctors sent them back. Later on July 15, the couple got the twins admitted to the hospital after the doctors gave them the go-ahead.

After months of preparation, fear, and sleepless night, on August 1, a team of physicians led by Professor Dr Ashraful Huq conducted major surgical operation on Tofa and Tahura and separated the twin sisters.

After the surgical treatment, Tofa and Tahura returned to her grandfather’s home on September 10 and were staying there. On September 29, the birthday of the babies was observed where physicians from DMCH, Sundarganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer and others were present.