The father told the BBC that the world’s only nuptials – nine babies born at the same time – were in “perfect health” as they celebrated their first birthday.
“They’re all crawling now. Some are sitting and can walk if they hold on to something,” said Abdelkader Arby, an army officer from Mali, a country in West Africa.
The children are still in the care of the clinic in Morocco, where they were born.
Arby said their 26-year-old mother, Halima Cissé, is also doing well.
“It’s not easy, but it’s wonderful. It’s tiring at times, but when you look at the perfect health of all babies, [em uma linha] we relaxed from right to left. We forgot everything,” he told the BBC.
She returned to Morocco for the first time in six months with her three-year-old daughter, Souda.
“I am so happy to be reunited with my whole family, my wife, my children and myself.”
Arby said the babies will only have a small birthday party with the nurses and a few people from the family building.
“Nothing is better than the first year. Let’s remember this wonderful moment we will live.”
The babies set the Guinness World Record for the survival of most children born in a single birth.
Before giving birth, on May 4, 2021, Cissé was flown to Morocco for special care by the government of Mali.
Multiple births are risky, and mothers with more than four fetuses at the same time are advised to terminate some in countries where abortion is legal.
Babies are also at risk of developing health problems due to preterm birth such as sepsis (disseminated infection) and cerebral palsy.
Ms. Cissé and the children now live in what their father describes as a “medical flat”, which belongs to the owners of the Ain Borja clinic in Casablanca, where the babies were born.
“In addition to my wife, there are nurses here who take care of the children,” Arby said.
“The clinic gave them a menu that told them what to eat at all times of the day and night,” he continued.
Five girls and four boys were born at 30 weeks, according to Financial Health Minister Fanta Siby. Youssef Alaoui, medical director of the Ain Borja clinic, told AFP news agency at the time of birth that their weight was between 500g and 1kg.
They were born by cesarean section.
The boys are called Mohammed VI, Oumar, Elhadji, Bah, and the girls are called Kadidia, Fatouma, Hawa, Adama, and Oumou.
“Each one has their own personality,” Dad said.
“They all have different personalities. Some are quiet, others are louder and cry a lot. Some always want a hug. They’re all so different, that’s totally normal.”
Arby also thanked the Mali government for their assistance.
“The State of Fiscal prepared everything for the care and treatment of nine babies and their mothers. It’s not easy, but it’s beautiful and comforting,” he said.
The father said that they do not know Mali yet, but they are already very popular in the country.
“Everyone is so excited to see the babies with their own eyes – their families, their friends, our village, the whole country.”
It also has a message for couples trying to have a child: “I hope everyone who hasn’t had a child will be able to have it too – so that we married parents can have what they have now. It’s beautiful, a real treasure.”
source: Noticias
