Treated Eman Ahmed like my own baby, world's heaviest woman now 176 kg, says Dr Muffazal ​Lakdawala

Image courtesy: Dr Aparna Govil Bhasker/Facebook

New Delhi: Eman Ahmed, better known as the world's heaviest woman, came to India a little over three months ago in a bid to lose weight.

During her three-month weight loss journey in Mumbai's Saifee Hospital, the 36-year-old Egyptian woman has garnered worldwide support and prayers.

Owing to her multiple ailments, Eman's recovery has been anything but smooth. But, as soon as doctors released a report saying that Eman could be discharged soon, things took an ugly turn.

An unfortunate situation unfolded after Eman's sister Shaimaa shared a video online calling bariatric surgeon Dr Muffazal Lakdawala, who has been treating Eman, a 'liar', adding that he is not giving correct updates regarding her sister's recovery.

Soon after, Eman's mother, Thanaa Ahmed, too released another video claiming that Dr Lakdawala and Saifee Hospital got her daughter to Mumbai on false promises and took advantage of her condition to gain publicity.

Dr Lakdawala rubbished all the allegations, saying that Eman is doing well and a CT scan needs to be done to ascertain her neurological condition. He further said that Eman's kin is creating a scene because she does not want to take her sister back to Egypt due to financial reasons.

Amidst the blame game and name-calling, a statement was released by Saifee Hospital on Thursday, announcing that Eman will be shifted to a hospital in Abu Dhabi for further treatment.

But, looks like this was far from over since the day Saifee Hospital announced Eman's transfer to the UAE, police was called to the hospital, with doctors accusing Shaimaa of feeding her sister water, despite warning from doctors who said it can prove fatal.

A police complaint has now been lodged against Eman's sister by the hospital authorities.

Now, speaking to Mid-day in his first interview post the entire fiasco, Dr Mufazzal Lakdawala told his side of the story and cleared the air about what he calls one of his biggest challenges.

On being asked about Eman's condition now, Dr Lakdawala called her recovery a miracle saying that, "She currently weighs 176 kg. That, in itself, is a miracle. She smiles at me. When the health minister paid a visit on Thursday, she blew a kiss. All chronic complications like hypo-thyroidism, cardiovascular, respiratory and hypertension have been resolved.

He further added that, "I have treated Eman like my own baby. When she had a bad phase of health in the initial days of her arrival, I slept in her room the whole night, while her sister slept in the adjoining room. People get defamed for doing wrong, but I gave her the best treatment available."

On her current weight, Lakdawala stated, that the weighing scale attached to her bed shows that she is 176 kg now, which has come down from 378 kg when she was last weighed on March 2. 

Eman was brought to Mumbai by a special cargo aircraft and admitted to the private hospital on February 11.

Eman who weighed over 500kg, underwent a bariatric surgery on March 7, after which doctors had claimed to have reduced her stomach size by two- third, so as to reduce the food intake.