By MAUREEN OKON

The King Abdullah Specialist Children’s Hospital of King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh in Saudi Arab has successfully separated Nigerian conjoined twins Hassana and Husaina.

This is contained in a statement signed by Mohammed Alsahabi, the Press Attache’ at the Saudi Arabia Embassy on Friday in Abuja.

NAN also reports that the twins were joined at the chest and shared vital organs, making their separation a medical intricate and challenging procedure.

Furthermore, their story had captured the hearts of millions worldwide, drawing attention to the urgent need for specialiesd medical attention for the twins.

”In a landmark medical achievement, a Saudi medical and surgical team, following the directives of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Al-Saud also the Prime Minister, has successfully completed the separation surgery of Nigerian conjoined twins, Hassana and Husaina, at the Medical City in Riyadh.

“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 Oct. 31, 2023, underwent comprehensive examinations that revealed shared areas in the lower abdomen, pelvis, lower spine, and lower spinal nerves. The surgical intervention unfolded in nine planned stages, lasting approximately 14 hours.

“A team comprising of 38 consultants, specialists, technicians, and nursing staffs, who are specialists in anesthesia, pediatric surgery, urology, orthopedics, plastic surgery, and pediatric neurosurgery collaborated seamlessly to ensure the success of this complex operation.

“This surgical milestone marked the 60^th operation undertaken by the Saudi program for separating Siamese twins, a program that has provided care for 135 conjoined twins from 25 countries over the past 34 years,’’ it stated.

Also, it added that, 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, noting a 70 per cent success rate.

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

“The successful separation of Hassana and Husaina exemplifies the Kingdom’s commitment to advancing medical science and extending compassionate healthcare on a global scale,” he said. (NAN)

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