Fifteen-month-old conjoined twins were on Tuesday discharged from the Federal Medical Centre in Keffi, Nasarawa State, after undergoing successfully separation a few weeks ago, OBSERVERS TIMES report
The twins named Hassana and Hussaina were born to an 80-year old man and widower, Ukpo Okaa, by his 27-year old wife, Tasara Okaa, both from Udeke In Nasarawa Local Government Area.
READ ALSO: Nasarawa Conjoined twins successfully separated in FMC Keffi.
The twins were said to have been born in a private medical facility on April 4, 2019, in the remote village of the state but referred to the FMC in Keffi for further evaluation and management about 18 hours after their birth.
Speaking with OBSERVERS TIMES Doctors said the separated conjoined twins were joined in the abdomen and had shared a liver, some tissues and skin.
The Chief Medical Director of the FMC, Keffi, Dr Yahaya Adamu, explained the cost of the separation was estimated at N35 million.
READ ALSO: Nasarawa Conjoined twins successfully separated in FMC Keffi.
He said the medical team that carried out the surgery, was led by Dr Charles Soo, a reputable Consultant and Paediatrics Surgeon, OBSERVERS TIMES learnt.
The 80-year-old Ukpo Okaa and his 27-year-old wife, Tasara Okaa, expressed happiness for the successful separation.
He was said to have married Tasara after he lost his first wife who had five children for him.
During a press conference announcing the feat, the Minister of State for Health, Dr Olorunimbe Mamora, expressed happiness that the twins were successfully separated after a nine-hour surgery on Friday July 10, 2020.
Mamora attributed the success to the commitment of the seasoned medical professionals and the Federal Government in giving Nigerians best medical services similar to those in the first world.
He said, “As at today, the twins are hale and hearty and have been at the Federal Medical Centre, Keffi. That is what we have been able to achieve by working together.
“We have always said that we have some of the best trained medical personnel anywhere in the world. Our institutions are strong and viable and given the right environment, the right conditions of service and the needed encouragement, they can rank among the best in the world.”
Mamora thanked the team of medical professionals who carried out the operation, saying, “I am sure that with the right encouragement, our country would be a destination of medical tourism.”