Kendrapara: The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) was informed that Jaga-Balia, the separated conjoined twins now staying at AIIMS New Delhi, need five more years for complete recovery.
The AIIMS filed its reply before the NCST challenging the petition and rejoinder filed by rights activist Radhakanta Tripathy.
The NCST had sought a reply from the AIIMS and the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on the issue.
The AIIMS report stated that this is the only craniopagus surgery ever conducted by it. The report also said that the condition of Balia has improved. He is taking normal diet and physiotherapy can be provided by his parents, attendants or caregivers.
The report said that there is no politics between the state and Centre regarding the financial aid mentioned by Tripathy in his rejoinder mentioning the amount refunded (Out of Rs 1 crore less than Rs 20 lakh was spent by AIIMS and the rest was refunded to the state) to the state by AIIMS.
As a goodwill gesture the AIIMS exempted certain expenses. The report also said that Odisha medical institutions including AIIMS Bhubaneswar are competent to take care of the twins.
Balia is neurologically weak and will take a long time for recovery. The parents of Jaga-Balia have been away from home for more than a year. They have two other children in Odisha to care for, the AIIMS Delhi said.
“We shall be happy to provide guidance to these children at a suitable point of time in the future. A team of doctors from Odisha can visit to enquire about the condition of both the children at AIIMS, New Delhi,” the report signed by a panel of doctors stated.
No special eye/plastic surgery is required for the twins or any surgery is planned for the children in the next five years. Helmets have been provided to them by AIIMS, New Delhi, to be worn while walking /playing.
The care necessary for the two was provided by a multidisciplinary team of AIIMS, New Delhi, in a timely manner. Keeping the children at the AIIMS for the next five years is illogical as skull cover has been provided. So the AIIMS has once again requested to put in place arrangements for shifting the children to Odisha, said the report.
The NCST has sought a reply from Tripathy, the petitioner, within 30 days in response to the AIIMS report.