Nigeria Conjoined Twins Separated in Saudi Arabia

Nigeria-born conjoined twins, Hassana and Husaina, have been successfully separated in a landmark medical feat at the King Abdullah Specialist Children’s Hospital in King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The successful surgery followed the directives of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister.

Mohammed Alsahabi, the Press Attache at the Saudi Arabia Embassy disclosed this through a statement made available to LEADERSHIP on Friday.

Alsahabi said the procedure, which began on Thursday morning, marked the culmination of meticulous planning and execution by a dedicated team of medical professionals.

The twins, who arrived in Riyadh on October 31, 2023, underwent comprehensive examinations that revealed that they shared areas in the lower abdomen, pelvis, lower spine, and lower spinal nerves.

The surgical intervention compromised nine planned stages which lasted approximately 14 hours.

A team of 38 which was drawn from consultants, specialists, technicians, and nursing staff specializing in anesthesia, pediatric surgery, urology, orthopedics, plastic surgery, and pediatric neurosurgery collaborated seamlessly to ensure the success of the complex operation.

This surgical milestone marked the 60th operation undertaken by the Saudi programme for separating Siamese twins where 135 conjoined twins from 25 countries have been provided care over the past 34 years.

Prior to the commencement of the procedure, Dr. Abdullah Al Rabeeah, Advisor at the Royal Court, Supervisor General of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief), and head of the medical team, expressed confidence in the success of the procedure at 70 per cent success rate.

Dr. Al Rabeeah extended heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to the Saudi leadership for its unwavering support of the programme.

The successful separation of the Nigerians exemplifies the Kingdom’s commitment to advancing medical science and extending compassionate healthcare on a global scale.