Joseph and Luka Banda
Encyclopedia
Joseph Banda and Luka Banda (born 1996, in Lusaka
, Zambia
) are formerly conjoined twins. They were born joined at the back of the skull. In 1997 Dr. Ben Carson led a team of 50 Zambian and South Africa
n specialists to separate the 11-month old twins.
The twins were joined at the head but faced in opposite directions. They did not share any organs, but did share intricate blood vessels that flowed into each other's brains. The twins are now in school and doing well. In an interview, Dr. Carson stated about the operation:
They are currently residing in a low cost/high density area of Lusaka, called Chilenje South, opposite Chilenje Police Station.
Lusaka
Lusaka is the capital and largest city of Zambia. It is located in the southern part of the central plateau, at an elevation of about 1,300 metres . It has a population of about 1.7 million . It is a commercial centre as well as the centre of government, and the four main highways of Zambia head...
, Zambia
Zambia
Zambia , officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west....
) are formerly conjoined twins. They were born joined at the back of the skull. In 1997 Dr. Ben Carson led a team of 50 Zambian and South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n specialists to separate the 11-month old twins.
The twins were joined at the head but faced in opposite directions. They did not share any organs, but did share intricate blood vessels that flowed into each other's brains. The twins are now in school and doing well. In an interview, Dr. Carson stated about the operation:
- "In the end, the Bandas became the first Type 2 craniopagus twinsCraniopagus twinsCraniopagus twins are conjoined twins who are conjoined at the cranium. This condition occurs in conjoined twin in about 1 in every 2,500,000 births...
(joined at the head and facing in opposite directions) ever separated with both surviving and both being neurologically normal."
They are currently residing in a low cost/high density area of Lusaka, called Chilenje South, opposite Chilenje Police Station.