The Federal Medical Centres Yenagoa and Yola have underwritten the cost of surgical procedure to separate a set of Siamese twins born to an indigent couple in Nembe, Bayelsa.
Dr Dennis Alagoa, Chief Medical Director of FMC Yenagoa
said while receiving the babies on arrival at Bayelsa International Airport on
Sunday that the surgery was done at FMC Yola.
He said that a team of pediatric surgeons and healthcare
experts from the two medical institutions collaborated to achieve the feat
while the Nigerian Air Force provided logistics for medical evacuation from
Yenagoa to Yola.
“The babies were delivered through caesarian section on
Dec. 12, 2019 at the General Hospital, Nembe here in Bayelsa and subsequently
refered to us at the FMC Yenagoa.
“They were cared for at the Special Baby Care Unit and they
were joined at the stomach in the liver.
“We evaluated the situation and in the best interest of
the babies opted to collaborate with FMC Yola where a successful exercise was
conducted in 2018 and our surgeons and the lead surgeonFMC Yola carried out the task.
“The surgery lasted for less than three hours and the
recovery of the babies was fast and smooth, by the next day, they were already
eating.
“We applaud the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar for his swift intervention by making the aircrafts
and logistics for medical evacuation of the babies alongside their parents and
medical team to and from Yola.
“The entire surgery which
runs into several millions was done free
of charge and two of us, the FMC Yenagoa and our counterparts FMC Yola in
addition to the upkeep of the young couple who are unemployed.
“We therefore appeal to
Bayelsa government to assist the family with job placement to guarantee the
upkeep of the twins,” Alagoa said..
The twins who were looking very vibrant got a cash gift
of N1 million from Bayelsa Deputy Governor, Sen. Lawrence Ewhrujakpo who
received them on arrival..
The medical feat was achieved by a joint team of
pediatric surgeons from Federal Medical Center (FMC) Yenagoa and FMC Yola where
the twins were separated on Aug 10, 2020.
Ewhrujakpo, who made the donation said the gesture was
his personal contribution to the upkeep of the twins pending a formal reception
of the twin by Gov Douye Diri of Bayelsa at a later date.
He said the twins Grace and Mercy Ayebaiyeni born to Mr
and Mrs Raphael Ayebaiyeni are the first to be successfully separated through
surgery in the South South zone.
The deputy governor who applauded the FMC Yenagoa and
Yola also announced that he would take care of upkeep and education one of the
twins Mercy who shares the same name with his mother and wife up to university
level
Raphael Ayebaiyeni commended the FMC Yenagoa and Yola for
the humanitarian gesture and show of love to his family.
“I express profound appreciation to everyone for the love
and care and support to our babies and my wife through out this experience,” an
elated Ayebaiye said.
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