Ilorin Conjoined Twins in good health_ Mr and Mrs Ahmed

One year and four months after separation surgery, conjoined twins in Ilorin bubbling with life after mother refused neighbor’s advice to euthanize them at birth.

The parents Mr. and Mrs. Taiwo and Tawakalitu Ahmed spoke to Arise journalist weekend on the condition of the twins which they say are in good health. “Since after the surgery the children are in good health”, Tawakalitu said.

Recounting her ordeal a year and six months ago when Habiba and Mahabuba were born, she said “the scan did not show them as conjoined twins. On the day of the operation, I did not think they will come out alive. I was so sad and wept bitterly.”

Reminiscing the episode, the siamese twins were born at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital through cesarian after over 24 hours labour. The conjoined twin who was connected from the chest to the upper abdomen was then moved to the new Natal Intensive Care Unit- NICU where they spent 100 days.

A year and four months ago the conjoined twins were separated by a team of 26 surgeons led by Professor Abdulraham Lukeman who combined their expertise to manage a successful surgery after working for seven hours.

Lukeman said conjoined twins cases are now commonplace since when the first case was reported in 1936 in a medical journal. He said the case of Habiba and Mahabuba was the third handled by the University Teaching Hospital.

Professor Benjamin Bolaji, a co-surgeon said “We had to seek for paediatric friendly types of equipment, mainly consumables” to support the surgery.

The feat is remarkable in a country where medical tourism by privileged Nigerians, politicians and government officials is at its peak.