The Modibbo Adama University Teaching Hospital (MAUTH), Yola, has recorded a major medical breakthrough with the successful separation of conjoined twins.
This feat has been described as a triumph of collaboration, expertise, and resilience within Nigeria’s healthcare system.
Speaking at a press conference following the landmark surgery, the Chief Medical Director, Professor Adamu Bakari, attributed the success to the strong foundation laid by past leadership and the dedication of the hospital’s multidisciplinary team.
He noted that since its establishment in 1999, the institution has grown from a 100-bed facility to an 830-bed tertiary hospital, positioning it among the leading medical centres in the country.
“If you compare this hospital with our contemporaries established in 1999, it is like comparing zero and infinity,” he said, emphasising the hospital’s capacity to deliver advanced diagnostics, including CT and MRI services, the only federal teaching hospital in North-East Nigeria currently offering both seamlessly.
Professor Bakari stressed that the vision of the hospital’s founding fathers remains intact: to ensure that residents of Yola and beyond can access comprehensive healthcare services without the need to travel elsewhere.
He also acknowledged the support of the government, stakeholders, and indigenes of Adamawa State, both at home and in the diaspora, urging continued investment in healthcare delivery.
Celebration Of Collaboration
The team lead for the surgery, Professor Abubakar Awal, described the operation as more than a medical achievement, calling it “a celebration of collaboration and hope.”
According to him, the twins who were joined at the abdominal region were referred from Taraba State, and arrived at the hospital four days after birth under critical circumstances, having lost their mother shortly after delivery.
In a remarkable humanitarian gesture, the hospital management approved a full waiver of all medical expenses, including costly diagnostic procedures and equipment procurement running into millions of naira.
The twins were also accommodated in the amenity ward for over five months at no cost.
Various departments, including paediatrics, radiology, and nursing staff, whose early interventions and accurate diagnosis ensured the success of the surgery.
Also, the Islamic Medical Association of Nigeria supported the care of the children, as well as the hospital’s patient relations unit, for their dedication.
Medical Tourism
The successful procedure, experts say, underscores Nigeria’s growing capacity to handle complex medical cases locally.
The team lead recalled that Nigeria has a history of such surgeries, noting that with adequate funding and infrastructure, the country can significantly reduce dependence on medical tourism.
“There is no level of complexity we cannot handle in Nigeria if the right support is provided,” he stressed.
He called on government at all levels to prioritise healthcare through improved funding, training, infrastructure, and better welfare for medical professionals, warning that the ongoing brain drain in the sector must be urgently addressed.
Looking Ahead
Both the CMD and surgical team reaffirmed their commitment to advancing healthcare delivery in line with national priorities, including the Federal Government’s reform agenda.
They expressed optimism that the success recorded would inspire further collaboration and innovation within Nigeria’s medical community.
The event concluded with a renewed appeal for sustained stakeholder support to enable the hospital to build on its achievements and continue delivering life-saving interventions.
“What we have done today shows that we are not only capable, but ready. With more support, we can do even more,” Professor Bakari said.