Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – In a remarkable medical achievement, Saudi surgeons successfully separated Nigerian conjoined twins during a 14-hour operation on Thursday. Hassana and Hassina, born on January 12, 2022, in Kaduna, Nigeria, were conjoined at the abdomen, pelvis, liver, intestines, and urinary and reproductive systems.
The highly skilled surgical team, consisting of 85 members, performed the intricate procedure at King Abdullah Specialist Hospital for Children in King Abdulaziz Medical City. The team, assembled on the directives of King Salman, ensured the twins’ well-being throughout the operation.
Dr. Abdullah Al Rabeeah, an adviser to the Saudi Royal Court and supervisor general of King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KRelief), led the multidisciplinary team. Over the course of 33 years, the Saudi Conjoined Twins Programme, overseen by KRelief, has provided assistance to 130 cases of conjoined twins from 23 different countries.
The successful separation of Hassana and Hassina marks the 56th set of twins to be separated by KRelief. Expressing gratitude for the humanitarian gesture, Nigeria’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Yahaya Lawal, conveyed his appreciation to King Salman, the crown prince, and the entire leadership of the kingdom.
Lawal stated, “I take this opportunity to once again thank the custodian of the two holy mosques, the crown prince, and the entire leadership of the kingdom for this kind humanitarian gesture extended to these conjoined Nigerian twins, Hassana and Hassina,” as stated by the Saudi Press Agency.
He further added, “Nigeria shall ever remain grateful for this kind humanitarian act.” The ambassador also expressed confidence in the ongoing medical progress, saying, “We understand a number of stages have been successfully carried out and look forward to successfully finishing the remaining stages.”
The successful separation of Hassana and Hassina brings hope to families around the world facing similar challenges, highlighting the tremendous advancements in medical expertise and technology. The medical community applauds the dedication and commitment of the Saudi surgical team in improving the lives of conjoined twins and their families.
