Omonibo Patience
Bight News– The Governor of Bayelsa State State, Senator Douye Diri on Saturday received the first successfully separated conjoined twins in southern Nigeria at the Bayelsa International Airport, Amassoma Bayelsa State.
The conjoined twins, Grace Ayebainemi Ralpheal and Mercy Ayebainemi Ralpheal who hail from Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, were successfully separated at the FMC Yola, Nigeria. They were first transferred to FMC Yenagoa from Nembe – their place of birth.
The Deputy Governor, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo who represented the Governor, while congratulating the parents commended the medical team for their meticulous efforts which brought about the success of the operation here in Nigeria.
He commended President Mohammadu Buhari, Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Abubakar Sadique, and the medical teams from Federal Medical Centre, Yola and its Yenagoa counterpart for their various contributions.
Describing the twins as special babies, he said apart from crude oil, the state has achieved another remarkable historical feat by producing the first successfully operated Siamese twins in the South-south region of the country.
In his words, “It is history in the sense that these jewels of Bayelsa, the Niger Delta and South-south left our shores in helicopter and (today) they are brought back in a jet that landed on our own airport.
“It is also history because this is the first time we are having co-joined twins in the South-south that have been successfully operated who are from Bayelsa where crude oil was first discovered to enrich Nigeria even though we have not got enough benefits.
“But let me also use this opportunity to thank the President of the country, General Mohammadu Buhari, the Chief of Air Staff, Abubakar Sadique, the FMC, Yola and your medical team in FMC, Yenagoa for your various contributions that have made the history we are celebrating today.”
Speaking earlier, the Chief Medical Director of Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa, Dr Dennis Alagoa, said Baby Grace and her sister, Mercy, were born on the 12th of December last year at Nembe General Hospital.
According to Dr Alagoa, the Siamese twins were transferrred to his hospital a day after their delivery and were under intensive care until January 2nd this year when they were flown to FMC, Yola, Adamawa State for surgery.
The Chief Medical Director who also appreciated the Chief of Air Staff and the medical team of FMC, Yola for their supportive roles, requested the state government to provide employment for the parents to guarantee the upkeep of the twins.
Recall that Bight Newspaper reported that conjoined twins were delivered in Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State on 13th December 2019.
