MALI NONUPLETS CELEBRATE FIRST BIRTHDAY

The world’s only nonuplets are in perfect health and have just celebrated their first birthday. They’ve managed to break the Guinness World Record for the most children to be delivered in a single birth to survive.

That’s according to Abdelkader Arby, father to the nine babies born at the same time.

Arby is an officer in the Malian army and he and the babies’ mother, Halima Cisse have still not taken the babies to their home country of Mali. They were born in a clinic in Morocco and they are still in the clinic’s care.

Cisse was flown to Morocco by the Mailian government ahead of the birth on 4 May 2021. Because multiple births are always risky, the government felt that the situation would be better handled in a country where abortion is legal, if something went wrong with one of the babies.

“They’re crawling now. Some are sitting up and can even walk if they hold on to something,” said Arby.

Although he admitted to it being tiring, Arby shared their joy over the nonuplets.

“It’s not easy but it’s great. Even if it’s tiring at times, when you look at all the babies in perfect health,  (in a line) from right to left we’re relieved.

BBC Afrique reports that he (Arby) has just returned to Morocco for the first time in six months, along with their elder daughter, Souda, aged three.

“I’m overwhelmed to be reunited with all my family – my wife, the children and me.” Nothing is better than the first year. We will remember this great moment we are going to experience.”

Image credit: The Times