CONJOINED TWINS RECEIVE 24-HOUR CARE AT PARADISE HOSPITAL AS CALLS FOR SUPPORT GROW

BY RAYLEEN WANJIMAN

THE conjoined twins transferred from Lae last month are now receiving round-the-clock specialist care at Paradise Private Hospital after being moved from Port Moresby General Hospital on the 13th of this month.

Janet Sios, co-founder of Paradise Private Hospital, says a dedicated team of eight nurses and one doctor is providing 24-hour care in the hospital’s restricted ICU to protect the infants.

She is calling on government, private sector, and the public to stand together in prayer and support for the twins, Tom and Sawong, as they continue their fight for life.

Captain Jurgen Ruh, Director of Manolos Aviation and the MAMA Foundation, who has been assisting the family, explained that the move was made to reduce the high risk of cross-infection at the larger public hospital.

At the private facility, both parents can now stay with the twins, offering crucial warmth, comfort and bonding that supports the healing process.

A specialist team from Sydney Children’s Hospital arrived last week to assess the babies. They are currently doing quite well with oxygen support, mother’s milk, and S26 formula. Tom remains the weaker of the two.

Ruh said that countries such as India, Germany, and Australia have been considered for overseas treatment and he stressed the importance of giving the twins a chance to survive locally first.

“If we go overseas, we might lose one and the other may survive or we might loose both but if we stay and do nothing, we haven’t tried. This is what hope is we must try to help them,” he said.

Captain Ruh continues to call for urgent international support and donor assistance to ensure the twins receive the care they need and the best chance at survival.