Nuha, Naba to return home tomorrow after anonymous donor pays Tk15 lakh hospital bill
They are scheduled for a follow-up appointment in a month and another surgery in six months
After more than two and a half years in the hospital, Nuha and Naba, the country's first successfully separated conjoined spine twins, are returning home tomorrow (25 November).
This achievement comes after months of medical challenges, including financial hurdles, life-changing multiple surgeries at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU).
Born on 21 March 2022, in a Kurigram clinic, the twins were referred to BSMMU in April of the same year. They underwent their first surgery on 31 January 2023, and since then, have undergone eight surgeries in total and have been staying in a hospital cabin.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
Although the treatment was initially planned to be free, Nuha, Naba could not return home due to complications over an unpaid hospital bill of Tk22 lakh. However, in a turn of generosity, an anonymous donor provided a large portion of the unpaid cabin charges.
"A person wishing not to be named has donated a large part of the unpaid hospital bills," said Professor Dr Md Shahinul Alam, Pro Vice Chancellor (Academic) of BSMMU. "The patients have been discharged, and we will decide later how to resolve the remaining amount."
According to the hospital authorities, over Tk50 lakh have been spent on Nuha and Naba's treatment, covering expenses such as cabin rent, medication from the hospital pharmacy, drugs and medical equipment used during surgeries by the neurosurgery department, anaesthesia supplies, and operation theatre charges.
BSMMU authorities have borne approximately Tk36 lakh of these costs, while an anonymous donor has contributed Tk15 lakh.
The Business Standard reporter Tawsia Tajmim and managing editor Chowdhury Khaled Masood played a crucial role in securing this donation.
The release papers were handed over today with the twins' father, Alamgir Rana.
Expressing his gratitude and relief, Alamgir said, "The university VC and others visited our cabin and handed over the release papers. We sought additional time to leave and will head home on Monday. "
He further said Nuha and Naba will need a follow-up in a month and another surgery in six months. "I have requested the VC sir to make the surgery free, and he has assured me," Alamgir added.
The twins' treatment was initially under the supervision of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who took charge of their care.
However, after Hasina resigned and left the country on 5 August, BSMMU asked Nuha Naba's father for cabin charges of Tk22 lakh, creating a barrier for the family's return home.
