Siamese twins die at Mulago

PIC: The twins, pictured here after birth, later developed breathing problems and died. (Credit: Henry Nsubuga)

KAMPALA - A set of conjoined twins born to a 20-year-old woman Sunday night have died hours after being put on life support.

They were delivered at Naggalama Hospital in Mukono district but had to be transferred to Mulago Hospital in Kampala for specialized treatment.

But the time of admission the female Siamese twins had been experiencing difficulty in breathing.

Their father, 35-year-old Zayida Mugoya, told New Vision on phone on Tuesday that the babies died at around 7.30pm Monday at Mulago's Special Care Unit.

Dr. Simon Otim, a gynaecologist, had earlier said the twins had some complications since they were born prematurely.

They were attached to each other from the chest to the umbilical cord on to the abdomen.

Their mother, Sarah Aliyinza, did not know she was carrying conjoined twins as she had not done a scan during her antenatal visits.

By the time of the twins' death, Mulago's paediatric experts were still examining them to see whether they shared vital body organs.

Sr. Jane Francis Nakafeero, the Naggalama Hospital attendant, told New Vision that the overall survival rate for conjoined twins is approximately 25%, adding that the condition is more frequently found among females.

Conjoined twins are said to occur once in every 200,000 live births.

The twins, according to their father, will be laid to rest in Nansirika village, Iganga district later on Tuesday (today).


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