By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Surgeons in Saudi Arabia have successfully carried out the separation of Nigerian twins, Hassanah and Hassina, after a 14-hour operation at the King Abdullah Specialist Hospital for Children in King Abdulaziz Medical City.
Born on January 12, 2022, in Kaduna, Hassana and Hassina, shared an abdomen, pelvis, liver, intestines, and urinary and reproductive systems, Arab News says in a report
An 85-member specialist medical team have successfully completed the seven of eight stages of the surgery.
The twins and their parents were airlifted to Riyadh on November 9, 2022.
This follows an approval of the King to conduct their separation at the expense of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia’s humanitarian initiatives have previously assisted with 130 cases of conjoined twins from 23 countries over a period of 33 years.
Hassana and Hassina will be the 56th set of twins to be separated as a result, Arab News said.
Before the operation began, the leader of the surgical team, Dr Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, an advisor to the Saudi Royal Court and supervisor-general of King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre, said the operation would include eight stages.