Turkish Surgeons Successfully Separate Pakistani Conjoined Twins After 14-Hour Operation

In an extraordinary medical breakthrough, a team of 60 doctors in Ankara, Türkiye, successfully separated 11-month-old Pakistani conjoined twins, Mirha and Minal, after an intense 14-hour surgery. Born with their heads fused together, the twins faced an uncertain future, until their family’s plea for help reached Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The journey to saving the twins began when London-based paediatric neurosurgeon, Dr. Owase Jeelani, recognized the possibility of separating them but found the costs in the UK prohibitive. Upon reaching out to President Erdogan, the Turkish leader ensured that the necessary treatment would be provided in Türkiye.

The twins were transferred to Bilkent City Hospital in May, where they were carefully prepared for the intricate procedure. The surgery, conducted in two stages and completed on July 19, was a complex operation led by Dr. Jeelani, along with Turkish surgeons Dr. Harun Demirci and Dr. Hasan Murat Ergani.

Dr. Aziz Ahmet Surel, the hospital’s chief coordinator, hailed the successful collaboration between the Turkish and British teams. “It is an indescribable joy to see the twins healthy and smiling after this arduous journey.”