Malian woman nine babies richer

A MALIAN woman gave birth to nonuplets in Morocco on Tuesday, and all nine babies are “doing well”, her government said, although Moroccan authorities have yet to confirm this extremely rare incident.

Mali’s government flew Halima Cisse (25) from the northern part of Mali to Morocco for better care on 30 March.

She was initially believed to be carrying seven babies.

Cases of women successfully carrying septuplets to term are rare, and nonuplets even rarer.

Moroccan health ministry spokesman Rachid Koudhari said he was not aware of a multiple birth in one of the country’s hospitals.

But Mali’s health ministry in a statement said Cisse gave birth to five girls and four boys through a cesarean section.

“The mother and babies are doing well so far,” Mali’s health minister Fanta Siby told AFP, adding that she had been kept informed by the Malian doctor who accompanied Cisse to Morocco.

They are due to return to Mali in several weeks’ time, the minister said.

Doctors were concerned about Cisse’s health, according to local press reports, as well as her babies’ chances of survival.

Mali’s health ministry in a statement said ultrasound examinations conducted in both Mali and Morocco suggested Cisse was carrying seven babies.

Siby offered her congratulations to “the medical teams of Mali and Morocco, whose professionalism is at the origin of the happy outcome of this pregnancy”.

In an age of information overload, Sunrise is The Namibian’s morning briefing, delivered at 6h00 from Monday to Friday. It offers a curated rundown of the most important stories from the past 24 hours – occasionally with a light, witty touch. It’s an essential way to stay informed. Subscribe and join our newsletter community.