50 indigenous experts separate conjoined twin babies at FMC Keffi

Over 50 experts from different medical fields have successfully separated a set of conjoined twin babies at Federal Medical Centre, Keffi in Nasarawa State.

While receiving the twins – Hassana and Hussaina – in Abuja on Tuesday, the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Adeleke Mamora, applauded the team that carried out the surgery for its team work.

Mamora said that the conjoined twins were delivered in a health facility in Nasarawa Local Government of Nasarawa State 15 months ago.

According to the Minister: “After extensive clinical and detailed investigations, the twins were adjudged to be joined at the abdomen and rib cage, they shared a common liver, subcutaneous tissue and skin with fixed xiphisternum and cartilages of the 10th and 11th ribs.

“The extensive preparation for the separation involved a multi-disciplinary team of over 50 medical experts cutting across the following specialties. Paediatric Surgeons, Plastic Surgeons, Cardiothoracic Surgeons, Anaesthetists, Intensivists, Paediatricians/Neonatologist, Laboratory Physicians, Scientists, Radiologists, Nurses, Pharmacists, Social Welfare Officers, Physiotherapists, Orthopedic Surgeons etc.

“On July 10, 2020, after a 9 – hour long surgery, they were successfully separated with no intra operative complications.”

While commending the Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, for the support given to the hospital, the Minister said that “this is the kind of collaboration we advocate between the states and the federal government.”

The Minister noted that the FMC Keffi would be one of the Centres the Federal Government would focus on for specialized surgery.

“I wish to assure you that from henceforth, Federal Medical Centre, Keffi will be one of the Centres of Federal Government focus on specialized surgeries,” he said.

He advised the staff of the hospital not to rest on their oars, as according to him, the best is yet to come.

On his part, the Chief Medical Director of FMC Keffi, Dr. Yahaya Baba Adamu, applauded the team of doctors who performed the surgery, noting that he also joined them.

He disclosed despite the complicated nature of the surgery, it ended without any complication and that there was no reason to scare.

While responding to questions, the leader of the surgery team, Dr. Saul Charles, disclosed that the surgery was estimated to cost close to 35 million naira. The Nasarawa state government, however, gave them 10 million.

He noted that the hospital will need some intensive care equipment to enable them perform better.

Commenting the challenges encountered, the Team Leader listed laboratory, equipment, PICU and theatre as some of them.