Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, welcomed Nigerian conjoined twins, Hassana and Hussaina, on Friday. They had just returned to Nigeria after a successful surgery in Saudi Arabia to separate them.
The twins arrived with their family at Malam Aminu Kano International Airport. Government officials, local residents, and representatives from Saudi Arabia gave them a warm welcome.
The surgery was done at King Abdullah Specialist Children’s Hospital in Riyadh. It was ordered by King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia.
Hassana and Hussaina were taken to Saudi Arabia in October 2023. A team of 38 medical experts, including children’s surgeons and other specialists, carried out the 14-hour operation in nine steps.
Doctors found that the twins were joined at the lower belly, pelvis, and spine. They also shared some important body parts, which made the surgery very difficult.
Before the surgery, the medical team carefully planned everything. The 38-member team included specialists in children’s surgery, brain surgery, bone surgery, urinary system surgery, anesthesia, and plastic surgery.
At the airport, Governor Yusuf thanked the Saudi government for paying for the surgery. He also promised that the Kano State government would take care of the twins, including paying for their education up to university.
Khalil Ahmed Al-Admawi, the Saudi Consular General in Kano, was also at the airport. He said the successful surgery showed Saudi Arabia’s dedication to helping people in need.
He added that Saudi Arabia, through the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre, will continue to offer medical help to countries like Nigeria, with which it has long-standing ties.
He said Hassana and Hussaina’s case was the 65th successful surgery done by the Saudi Siamese Twins Separation Program. Over the past 35 years, this program has helped 150 sets of conjoined twins from 25 different countries.
This program is now one of the top medical charity efforts in the world. It shows Saudi Arabia’s skill in children’s surgery and its commitment to helping families in need.
