From Joseph Asegba, Yola
The Modibbo Adama University Teaching Hospital (MAUTH), Yola, has made history again with the successful separation of its sixth set of conjoined twins in Adamawa State.
At a press conference, the Chief Paediatric Surgeon at the hospital, Prof. Abubakar Auwal, disclosed this during the discharge ceremony of the newly separated twins.
According to Auwal, the latest procedure marks the sixth successful separation since 2013, when the hospital performed its first operation of this nature.
Explaining further, he said the twins were joined at the abdominal region and were successfully separated without complications.
The surgeon noted that Nigeria recorded its first conjoined twins separation in 1936 in Sokoto, adding that several successful procedures have since been carried out across the country.
He called for increased government investment in healthcare, particularly in funding, training, infrastructure, and professional collaboration, to sustain such advanced medical procedures.
Auwal said improved support would help reduce medical tourism and address the shortage of young doctors caused by migration, popularly known as the “Japa” syndrome.
He added that the hospital provided the recent surgery free of charge, covering surgery, drugs, and admission, noting that the cost runs into millions of naira.
The surgeon commended staff of the paediatric, radiology, and nursing units for their roles in ensuring accurate diagnosis and a successful operation.
However, Professor Auwal disclosed a sad aspect of the case, revealing that the twins’ mother died shortly after their birth.
In his remarks at the briefing, the Chief Medical Director of MAUTH, Prof. Adamu Bakari, lauded the efforts of the medical team and reaffirmed the hospital’s commitment to quality healthcare delivery.
Bakari noted that the hospital has expanded from a 100-bed facility in 1999 to over 800 beds, with advanced diagnostic equipment, including CT and MRI services.
He added that the hospital now attracts patients from across the country for complex paediatric surgeries, reinforcing its status as a centre of excellence in the North-East.
The CMD, therefore, called for sustained support from the government and other stakeholders to enhance service delivery and maintain comprehensive in-house care.
Also speaking, the twins’ grandfather, Mr. Jibir Adamu, expressed gratitude to the hospital for providing free treatment and saving the lives of the children.