Nigerian Conjoined Twins Returned Home After Life-Saving Surgery In Saudi Arabia

The Nigerian conjoined twins, Hassana and Husaina, who recently underwent a successful separation surgery in Saudi Arabia, have returned to Nigeria to a warm reception at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA).

According to Vanguard, the twins had traveled to Riyadh in October 2023, where they underwent months of detailed medical evaluations. Doctors later confirmed that they were conjoined at the lower abdomen, pelvis, and spine, sharing critical organs and structures that made their case highly complex.

Their life-saving surgery was conducted at the King Abdullah Specialist Children’s Hospital, King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh, under the directives of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, and the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud.

Speaking during the reception at MAKIA, the Consular General of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Kano, Khalil Ahmed Al-Admawi, described the successful operation as a reflection of the Kingdom’s commitment to humanitarian service. He noted that the surgery on Hassana and Husaina marked the 65th successful separation under the Saudi Siamese Twins Separation Program.

Al-Admawi explained that the program has provided care for 150 sets of conjoined twins from 25 different countries in the past 35 years. According to him, “The separation of Hassana and Husaina marks the 65th successful operation under the Saudi Siamese Twins Separation Program, which has provided care for 150 sets of conjoined twins from 25 countries over the past 35 years. The program has become one of the most prominent medical humanitarian initiatives globally, showcasing Saudi Arabia’s expertise in pediatric surgery and its dedication to supporting vulnerable families.”

He further assured that Saudi Arabia, through the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre, would continue to extend medical assistance and humanitarian goodwill to countries in need, particularly Nigeria, with which it shares long-standing ties.

Welcoming the family, Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf pledged that the state government would sponsor the education of Hassana and Husaina from basic to tertiary levels. He also promised to provide food support for the family, while commending the Saudi authorities for what he described as a life-changing humanitarian gesture.

The father of the twins, Alhaji Hassan Isa, who was visibly emotional, expressed profound gratitude to the Saudi government and the Kano State government for the extraordinary support given to his family throughout the journey.

The successful separation surgery has been hailed internationally as one of the most challenging yet rewarding achievements of the Saudi Siamese Twins Separation Program, further cementing Saudi Arabia’s global reputation in complex pediatric surgery.