Health

78 Nigerian Doctors Separate Conjoined Twins in 12 Hours Operation

Dooshima Abu (BBC Africa)/

A team of doctors in Nigeria have successfully separated one-year-old conjoined twins.

Lead surgeon Emmanuel Ameh told the BBC the operation to separate Goodness and Mercy Martins at the chest and abdomen took place in November and the two sisters were now well enough to go home.

He said the operation, which cost about $55,000 (£42,000), was complicated and lasted for about 12 hours. It involved 78 doctors working in two groups.

But the medics at National Hospital Abuja did not charge for their work because the twins’ parents – Michael Edeh and Maria Onya Martins – could not afford the medical bills.

They rely on Mr Martins’ salary as a painter to get by.

The couple had first brought their daughters to hospital in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, in August 2018 just after their birth.

The children had to wait until they were stronger to be seperated

But the doctors couldn’t operate on them immediately as they were not well enough.

They were cared for at the government-owned hospital for the next 15 months and their strength built up over time. The green light was then given for the operation.

The hospital has separated about 11 conjoined twins over the last 20 years, but in those cases all the twins had been joined at the abdomen.

The hospital’s medical director, Jaff Momoh, said this case stood out as it was the first time an operation had involved the lower chest wall, liver and diaphragm.

Mr Martins said he was so happy to see his daughters alive and well – and the family were looking forward to returning home.

His wife said words were not enough to thank the team of doctors and the kindness of the hospital staff.

She said she had felt heartbroken when the babies were born, but now she was all smiles.

The minister of health has visited the hospital to praise the efforts of the medics and meet the family – and the women’s affairs minister has promised to give Mrs Martin a job to help the family.

0
Editor

Recent Posts

Are The Grammys Relevant Outside the United States?

Building Credibility For nearly eight decades, the Grammy Awards have stood as the pinnacle of…

1 day ago

Disputed 5.3bn Shares: Court Adjourns Barbican/FBN Holdings Suit as Ecobank’s Recusal Motion Remains Pending

Justice Ayokunle Faji has adjourned further proceedings in the suit filed by Barbican Capital Limited…

3 days ago

Los Angeles Protects Undocumented Immigrants from Trump’s Deportation Plans with Sanctuary Ordinance

Segun Atanda/ The Los Angeles City Council has approved a sweeping "sanctuary city" ordinance designed…

3 days ago

Trump Could Face Prison After Second Term, Prosecutors Say

Segun Atanda/ New York prosecutors have opposed dismissing President-elect Donald Trump’s conviction for falsifying business…

3 days ago

MC Oluomo Flouts Court Order, Assumes Office as NURTW President

Femi Ashekun/ In a bold and controversial move, Musiliu ‘MC Oluomo’ Akinsanya, has defied a…

3 days ago

Tinubu Sacks Nnamdi Azikiwe University VC, Registrar … Dissolves Council

Matilda Omonaiye/ President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has dissolved the Governing Council of Nnamdi Azikiwe University,…

3 days ago