Limpopo premier Phophi Ramathuba on Friday confirmed the death of one of the recently separated conjoined twins at Mankweng Tertiary Hospital.
The infant suffered multiple organ failure, after post-surgery infections had kicked in, she said.
The other baby has been excubated and was breathing on his own. “He is recovering well and we continue to monitor him,” said Ramathuba, who is also a medical doctor.
The two boys were separated on March 17. They had been born, joined at the abdomen, on January 28 after the 29-year-old mother was referred to Mankweng hospital from Maphutha Malatjie Hospital when the diagnosis of conjoined twins was made during labour.
According to the medical team, the operation itself was successful and both babies were separated safely. However, signs of infection first appeared around the fifth day after surgery.
The medical team said the days after surgery are critical, generally speaking, because newborn babies are highly vulnerable to infection.
Ramathuba said the medical team had provided the best possible care to the twins while dealing with the complexity of their condition.
She asked the public to show support towards the family in their time in mourning, through prayer and sensitivity in comments posed on social media.
TimesLIVE
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