Doctors optimistic about health of Malian woman’s nine babies

Doctors are pleased with the progress of the nonuplets in a Moroccan hospital (Abdeljalil Bounhar/AP)

A Malian woman’s nine premature babies are being closely monitored in a Moroccan clinic, with medical staff working around the clock to stabilise their health.

Halima Cisse, 25, gave birth to the nonuplets: five girls and four boys, earlier this month in Morocco after the Malian government flew her there for specialist care. The babies weighed between 1.1 pounds and 2.2 pounds at birth.