Mr Edward Kiely - We must invest in our potential

IN THE midst of all the gloomy economic news, and the volcanic disruption of the travel and tourist industries, today’s interview with Edward Kiely, the surgeon who led the team that separated the conjoined twins, Hassan and Hussein Benhaffaf, makes inspiring reading.

The twins, who were born conjoined on December 2, 2009, were successfully separated last month. They were transferred from intensive care earlier this month, and Mr Kiely says they are likely to leave hospital in the next couple of days.

Their separation was a massive undertaking. They shared many organ and bones, which necessitated the division of liver, intestine and bone in a 14-hour operation, involving a medical team, 20 strong.