Conjoined twins survive 1400km journey to separation

Conjoined twins born in a remote village in the Democratic Republic of Congo have survived a 15-hour journey on the back of a motorbike to be separated.

They were then flown to the capital, Kinshasa, where they were operated on by a team of volunteer surgeons.

In total, the one-week-old girls had to endure an 870-mile (1,400km) round trip across jungle, on treacherous roads and by air.

The twins are now being monitored.

The babies – Anick and Destin – will return to their village in three weeks. They were born at 37 weeks in August, were joined at the navel, sharing some internal organs.

Dr Junior Mudji, who is now caring for them at Vanga Evangelical Hospital, said he was delighted.

“At 37 weeks, conjoined twins born naturally – it’s unheard of,” he said.

“They are doing fine, they sleep well and eat well. In general, they are doing well.

“We will keep them here for three more weeks to be sure everything is normal.”

Dr Mudji believes the operation was the first to separate conjoined twins in the Democratic Republic of Congo.