A team of Nigerian doctors has accomplished the successful separation of a set of conjoined twins.
The complex surgery to separate Goodness and Mercy Martins at the National Hospital Abuja took 13 hours, involving 78 doctors working in two groups.
Goodness and Mercy Martins were delivered on August 13, 2018, in Nasarawa state, through a caesarean section. Their mother, who was not employed, was unaware she was expecting twins, and the news of them being born conjoined at the chest and abdomen was a shock to her.
Lead surgeon, Emmanuel Ameh, informed the BBC that the operation to separate the twins was successfully carried out in November, and the sisters were now in stable condition to be discharged home.
Although the surgery was complex and cost approximately $55,000, the medical team at the National Hospital Abuja did not charge the twins’ parents, Michael Edeh and Maria Onya Martins, due to their inability to afford the medical expenses. The family relies solely on Mr. Martins’ income as a painter.
During the formal presentation of the separated twins, the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, credited the successful outcome of the surgery to the teamwork and administrative support received by the experts at the hospital.
He stated, “These beautiful girls, of Benue State origin, and their proud parents, are beneficiaries of a healthcare system that has functioned as it should.
“The case management team has shown that our health system, despite modest resources, can rise to the highest challenges and provide quality care to establish itself among internationally renowned hospitals.”
The twins were taken to the National Hospital in Abuja a day after their birth and underwent four operations by a team of experts over 16 months before they were deemed fit for the separation surgery.
Consultant pediatric surgeon, Professor Emmanuel Ameh, who led the team of experts, explained the uniqueness of the case of Goodness and Mercy Martins, who were joined at two of the most delicate organs of the body.
He presented a brief animation video outlining the steps taken to separate the sisters.
“This is an extremely rare condition. The biggest challenge we faced was their separation at the chest region. This is the first instance of twins joined in the chest and the abdomen being separated throughout the entire country. All the other separated twins were joined in only one organ,” Ameh said.
The National Hospital Abuja has previously separated around 11 conjoined twins over the past 20 years, but this case stood out as the first to involve the lower chest wall, liver, and diaphragm.
Mr. Martins, a painter from Oturkpo, expressed his joy at seeing his daughters alive and well, thanking God and the medical team. He eagerly anticipated returning home with his family.
His wife expressed immense gratitude to the team of doctors and the compassionate hospital staff.
The Minister of Health visited the hospital to praise the efforts of the medical professionals and met the family. Additionally, the Minister of Women’s Affairs promised to provide Mrs. Martins with employment to assist the family.