“In implementation of the directives of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister,” the SPA said in a statement.
A Saudi medical and surgical team has begun separating Nigerian conjoined twins Hassana and Hasina on Thursday morning at King Abdullah Specialist Children’s Hospital in King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh.
A statement from the Saudi Embassy in Abuja, Nigeria, quoted the Saudi Press Agency, SPA, as saying that the assignment is sequel to approval by the King and the Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
“In implementation of the directives of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister,” the SPA said in a statement.
It said following their arrival in Riyadh on October 31, 2023, the twins underwent extensive examinations, which revealed they share areas in the lower abdomen, pelvis, lower spine, and lower spinal nerves.
It added that the surgery will be performed in nine stages and is expected to take approximately 14 hours.
“A team of 38 consultants, specialists, technicians, and nursing staff in the specialties of anesthesia, pediatric surgery, urology, orthopedics, plastic surgery, and pediatric neurosurgery will participate in the operation.
“According to Advisor at the Royal Court, Supervisor General of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief), and head of the medical team Dr. Abdullah Al Rabeeah, the success rate of the operation is 70%.
“This is the 60th operation performed by the Saudi program for separating Siamese twins. Over the past 34 years, the program has cared for 135 conjoined twins from 25 countries,” it said.
It said Dr. Al Rabeeah expressed his gratitude and appreciation to the Saudi leadership for its support of the program.
