Bayelsa State Deputy Governor, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo has donated N1 million for the upkeep of Grace and Mercy Ayebaiyeni, the conjoined twins separated and brought home at the weekend.
Ewhrudjakpo, who received the twins and their parents at the state’s airport yesterday, said it was his contribution to their upkeep pending a reception by Governor Douye Diri.
Speaking with newsmen, the deputy governor said Grace and Mercy were the first to be successfully separated in Southsouth.
Chief Medical Director of Federal Medical Centre (FMC)at Yenagoa, Dr Dennis Alagoa said the surgery was performed at FMC at Yola in Adamawa State.
He said paediatric surgeons and health experts from both centres collaborated to achieve the feat, while Nigerian Air Force provided logistics for travel.
At an elaborate occasion to celebrate the feat on the hospital premises in Yola on Saturday, its Chief Medical Director (CMD), Prof Awwal Muhammad Abubakar, said the success was attained as a result of the interventions of the Secretary to the Federal Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha.
The Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG) and Chief Emeka Offor Foundation donated modern equipment which enabled the hospital to carry out the operation successfully.
During the case presentation, Abubakar said the twins were delivered on December 12, 2019 through a Caesarean Section (CS) in Bayelsa State and were taken to FMC, Yenagoa, after they were identified to be conjoined and were stabilised.
“Grace and Mercy were delivered through Caesarean Section on December 12, 2019, at the General Hospital, Nembe, Bayelsa, and subsequently referred to us at the FMC in Yenagoa. The twins were successfully separated on August 10, 2020.
“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 surgery was conducted. Our surgeons and the lead surgeon at FMC in Yola carried out the task.
“…surgery lasted for less than three hours and recovery was fast and smooth. By the next day, they were already eating.
“We hail the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, for his intervention by providing the aircraft and logistics for medical evacuation of the babies, their parents and medical team”, he said.
Abubakar said Grace and Mercy did not share any other organ besides liver. He said the nature of their joining made surgery easier, with the lesser time of three hours.