From Saudi Arabia to US, calling for twins

‘‘It’s been a really great response. A big surprise for us,’’ smiles Leena Pereira, a social worker at JJ Hospital.

Around 15 would-be couples and mothers have contacted hospital authorities so far expressing their keenness to adopt the girls.

Some interested mothers, including a single mother from the United States and a Dubai-settled woman in her 40s, even came forward with the documents necessary for legal adoption.

‘‘It was quite heartening,’’ says Dr A. Rathod, who says he has had some very ‘‘emotional’’ phone calls from prospective parents.

While the unexpected attention has given the twins a good chance of finding a happy future home, their chances of catching infection have also doubled.

With frequent visitors, doctors are worried that the infants are falling prey to sepsis, a blood infection, due to their low birth-weight.

‘Since visitors carry their infection into the babies’ room, it can spread to the infants too. Their condition could deteriorate,’’ says a resident doctor.

Now the hospital is on the look out for a 24-hour nursing attendant. ‘‘We’ll even pay them for 12-hour shifts. It’s important that the girls get lots of affection and care,’’ says Pereira.