National Hospital separates co-joined twins

TRACKING >After 16 months of intensive surgical procedure, the National Hospital, Abuja, yesterday handed over its first successfully separated co-joined twins, Goodness and Mercy, to their parents.

Present to celebrate the achievement were Ministers of Health, Osagie Ehanire and Olorumnibe Mamora, Minister of Women Affairs, Paullen Tallen, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Abdullahi Mashi, management and staff of National Hospital, especially the team of medical experts that conducted the surgery.

The twins were born to Mr. Micheal Edeh Martins and Mariah Martins, after a successful surgery that lasted for over 12 hours at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Keffi, Nasarawa State, on August 13, 2018, but were referred to the National Hospital on account of being co-joined at the chest and abdomen.

Speaking at a formal presentation of the babies, an excited Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, noted that the careful planning and execution of the surgery by a team of local medical professionals was an indication that Nigeria had all it takes to make significant impact in world medical system.

“We only require good leadership, friendly working environment and commitment from the medical professionals, irrespective of the field; to do what others thought was not possible. Ordinarily, this was what many thought could not be done in Nigeria, but here we are, the surgery was successfully done by a team of Nigerian medical professionals.”

The Lead Surgeon, Prof. Emmanuel Ameh, said the surgery was conducted November 14, 2019, when the babies clocked 15 months by a team of 78 medical professionals; surgeons, nurses, anaesthetists, paediatricians, radiologists, haematologists, chemical pathologists, pharmacists and several other support staff directly involved in activities that heralded the successful surgery.

He disclosed that the pre-surgery examination had revealed that the babies shared some vital organs including, liver, chest wall, diaphragm and pericardium. But he was happy that liver was successfully shared for the two babies using modern medical equipment.

Ameh further said that the hospital had established a follow up system, to ensure regular monitoring of the babies, and also ensure good nutrition for proper growth and development. In addition to that, the lead surgeon said chest wall remodeling may be required for Mercy as well as other routine medical examination.

“This is the first time in Nigeria that we have separated twins co-joined in chest and abdomen. Others have been joined in the tummy and not chest and abdomen as it was in the case of Goodness and Mercy.”

Chief Medical Director, National Hospital, Dr. Jaf Momoh, said the management of the hospital decided to fund the care and the entire processes leading to and including the major surgical procedure for the separation as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

According to Momoh, about N20 million was spent by the hospital both in cash and kind to successfully carryout the surgery.

While appreciating God and the medical team for the success of the operation, Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen, offered an automatic employment to the mother of the babies, who had been unemployed.