Kano Governor welcomes Nigerian conjoined twins home after successful separation in Saudi Arabia

Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State warmly received twin sisters Hassana and Husaina, who returned home following a complex surgery that separated them in Saudi Arabia. This took place in Riyadh under the direction of Saudi Arabia’s royal leadership.

The twins traveled to Riyadh in October 2023, where they underwent extensive medical assessments at King Abdullah Specialist Children’s Hospital, King Abdulaziz Medical City. Joined at the lower abdomen, pelvis, and spine, Hassana and Husaina shared critical organs, which presented exceptional challenges for surgeons.

A multidisciplinary team of 38 specialists, including pediatric surgeons, neurosurgeons, orthopaedists, urologists, anesthetists, and plastic surgeons, worked meticulously through nine carefully planned phases to separate the girls safely. The operation took approximately 14 hours and required intricate coordination to reconstruct their individual systems.

The success of this complex surgery adds to the growing record of Saudi Arabia’s humanitarian medical efforts supporting families in need worldwide. The program, now 35 years old, has helped 150 pairs of conjoined twins from 25 countries, making it one of the leading centres for such delicate procedures.

At the airport, Saudi Consular General Khalil Ahmed Al-Admawi celebrated the life-saving operation as the Kingdom’s supports to humanitarian aid and pledged continued support through the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre. Governor Yusuf also committed to ensuring the twins’ welfare, education, and future needs are fully provided for.