Hassan and Hussein Amri Jummane, three-year-old twin boys who were born joined at the chest, pelvis, and sharing three legs, have safely returned to Tanzania after undergoing a life-changing separation surgery in Saudi Arabia.
Speaking to the media, Dr. Rachel Mhaville from Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH) explained that the twins were admitted to MNH in August 2021 from Igunga, Tabora, when they were just two weeks old.
They spent 11 months at the hospital receiving care and preparation for the complex surgery. On August 23, 2023, they were flown to Saudi Arabia on a special medical flight for the operation.
The surgery, which took place on October 5, 2023, lasted 16 hours. Dr. Mhaville said that while MNH has skilled doctors and modern equipment, the complicated nature of how the twins were joined required advanced expertise and resources.
The Saudi government stepped in to support the twins by covering their transportation and treatment.
She expressed her gratitude to Saudi Arabia for giving the twins a new chance at life and noted that they will continue to receive follow-up care at Muhimbili to help them recover fully and improve their quality of life.
Dr. Mhaville also called on Tanzanians to help build a better home for the twins' mother, Ms. Hadija Shabani, who lives in poor conditions in Igunga, Tabora. A stable home will ensure the boys grow up in a healthy and supportive environment.
Ms. Hadija thanked both the governments of Saudi Arabia and Tanzania for their help in ensuring her children could have the surgery they needed.
Dr. Zaituni Bokhary, a pediatric surgeon at MNH, explained that a team of specialized doctors in Saudi Arabia, including experts in blood vessels and urinary systems, worked together to separate the boys. The surgery was performed at King Abdulaziz Hospital in Riyadh and was a great success.