The separation of conjoined twins at the National Hospital Abuja is a demonstration of what Nigeria’s health system can achieve with modest resources according to the country’s health minister Dr. Osagie Ehanire. The minister was speaking at a press conference organised by the hospital to mark the discharge from the hospital of the set of conjoined twins who were joined at the chest and liver.
“They have demonstrated that our health system, even with modest resources can rise up to the highest challenges and offer quality care to find its position among renowned international hospitals,” the health minister said.
The Minister also noted that as the government is aiming for grassroots Universal Health coverage, it is also not ignoring support for tertiary care to improve performance.
In his remark, Minister of State for Health, Dr. Adeleke Olorunnimbe Mamora, described the hospital’s feat as “a testimony to what we can do. Where there is unity and purpose, success is assured, healthcare is a team work, not a solo event. With this achievement, it means we must play down inter-professional rivalry in the health sector, because it does not do us any good.”
While it is described as an extremely rare condition, several cases of conjoined twins have been reported in various parts of Nigeria. In their study, Amuabunos and colleagues reported that over a period of 12 years (from 1999 to 2011), three cases of conjoined twins were recorded at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital.
“A set of thoracoomphalopagus twins (females) were delivered in 1999 and they survived for only 36hrs. Another set of female omphalopagus twins were delivered in 2009 and survived a separation surgery. A third set of female thoracoomphalopagus was delivered in another institution same year and referred to our unit but they only survived for 48 hours,” the researchers reported.
What are conjoined twins?
Conjoined twins occur when siblings have their skin or internal organs fused together.
It affects around one in 200,000 live births.
Conjoined twins are caused by a fertilised egg beginning to split into two embryos a few weeks after conception, but the process stops before it is complete.
The most common type is twins joined at the chest or abdomen.
Separation surgery success depends on where the twins are joined.
Doctors can only tell which organs the siblings share, and therefore plan surgery, after they are born.
At least one twin survives 75 per cent of the time.