By TALATU MAIWADA

The Modibbo Adama University Teaching Hospital (MAUTH), Yola, says it has successfully separated six sets of conjoined twins in the past decade.

The Chief Paediatric Surgeon at the hospital, Prof. Abubakar Auwal, disclosed this on Saturday at the discharge ceremony of a newly separated set of twins.

Auwal said the latest procedure marked the sixth successful separation since 2013, when the hospital performed its first operation of such nature.

He explained that the twins were joined at the abdominal region and were successfully separated without complications.

The surgeon noted that Nigeria recorded its first conjoined twins separation in 1936 in Sokoto, adding that several successful procedures had since been carried out across the country.

According to him, the hospital’s achievements are a result of teamwork, improved expertise and collaboration among specialists in different fields.

He, however, called for increased government investment in healthcare, especially in funding, training, infrastructure and professional collaboration, to sustain such advanced medical procedures.

Auwal said improved support would help reduce medical tourism and address the shortage of young doctors caused by migration, popularly known as the “Japa” syndrome.

He added that the hospital provided the recent procedure free of charge, covering surgery, drugs and admission, noting that the cost typically runs into millions of naira.

The surgeon commended staff of the paediatric, radiology and nursing units for their roles in ensuring accurate diagnosis and successful surgery.

In his remarks, the Chief Medical Director of MAUTH, Prof. Adamu Bakari, praised the medical team and reaffirmed the hospital’s commitment to quality healthcare delivery.

Bakari said MAUTH had expanded from a 100-bed facility in 1999 to over 800 beds, with advanced diagnostic equipment, including CT and MRI services.

He added that the hospital now attracts patients from across the country for complex paediatric surgeries, reinforcing its status as a centre of excellence in the North-East.

The CMD called for sustained support from government and stakeholders to enhance service delivery and maintain comprehensive in-house care.

Also speaking, the twins’ grandfather, Mr Jibir Adamu, expressed gratitude to the hospital for providing free treatment and saving the lives of the children.

The twins’ mother, however, died shortly after childbirth. (NAN)