Cape Town - Exactly a year ago to the day, the world's only nonuplets – nine babies born at the same time – remain in perfect health as they celebrate their first birthday, their father told the BBC on Wednesday.
Mali's record-breaking nonuplets celebrate their first birthday today.
— Sam Bradpiece (@Sam_Bradpiece) May 4, 2022
"When one or two wake up, they all wake up. This can make it difficult to sleep," said their father.
My latest for @thetimes with @janeflan.https://t.co/Z4F669Dm5c
"They're all crawling now, the newborns (five girls and four boys). Some are sitting up and can even walk if they hold on to something," said dad, Abdelkader Arby, an officer in the Malian army, in a BBC report.
According to the Daily Mail UK, Arby, 35, a sailor with the Mali navy, had to stay behind at their three-bedroom home in Timbuktu due to Covid restrictions and could only meet the babies for the first time in Morocco on July 9.
The four boys are called Mohammed, Bah, El Hadji and Oumar, while the five girls are named Hawa, Adama, Fatouma, Oumou and Kadidia.
The pregnancy of Halima Cisse, 25, fascinated the West African nation and attracted the attention of its leaders in 2021, especially when doctors in March last year said Cisse needed specialist care, and authorities flew her to Morocco where she gave birth, a Reuters report said.
Cisse was initially expected to give birth to seven babies, since two of the foetuses were not picked up in earlier examinations. All were delivered by caesarean section.
This was tweeted one year ago.
25 years old Malian lady Mme Halima Cisse gave birth to 9 babies yesterday in Morocco. The information was revealed by Mali's Minister of public health.
— E-KWAT TV (@EkwatTV) May 5, 2021
The young mother gave birth to 5 girls 4 boys through Caesarean section. pic.twitter.com/PeODc7ysLI
Nonuplets are extremely rare. Medical complications in multiple births of this kind often mean that some of the babies do not reach full term.
IOL