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- EDD K. USMAN | Twitter: @edd1819 | Instagram: @bluestar0910 | Facebook: SDN — SciTech & Digital News
MANILA (SDN) — Conjoined twins Akisha and Ayeesha Marcaida Yusoph, 5 years and 6 months young, are now two separate individuals.
Their separation surgery at the King Abdullah Specialist Children’s Hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, was a success, said Rommel Romato, Philippine ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia the other day.
“Congratulations to Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah and the medical team of King Abdullah Specialist Children’s Hospital for the successful mission,” the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) official announced on his Facebook page.
Of course, Dr. Al-Rabeeah is the top Saudi pediatric surgeon who led the successful operation, which he has been performing for many years for conjoined twins of poor families from many parts of the world.
The first Filipino conjoined twins he and his team operated were Princess Ann and Princess Mae Manzo of Mandaue City, Cebu, in 2004. They are now around 24 years old and living normal lives.
Romato and his wife, Dr. Nizhreen Mapandi Romato, were invited to the hospital by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSRelief) which sponsored the operation, to witness the livestream of the surgery on June 6.
The top Filipino diplomat in the Kingdom described the medical procedure “a resounding success”.
“We are delighted to share the news of the successful surgical separation of Filipino conjoined twins, Ayeesha and Akhizah, here in Riyadh today, 6th June 2024. The medical procedure, performed at King Abdullah Specialist Children’s Hospital, was a resounding success,” Ambassador Romato said.
The Philippine Embassy in Riyadh, on behalf of the Philippine Government, expressed its deepest gratitude to King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and the people of Saudi Arabia for what it called “their unwavering support”.
Under Ambassador Romato’s leadership, the Philippine Chancery also extended its heartfelt congratulations to Al-Rabeeah and his “exceptional medical team…whose expertise and teamwork made the operation successful.”
The embassy emphasized that the Saudi government’s “lifesaving program reflects the Saudi values of compassion and service to humanity.”
Royal Decree of King Salman provides for the surgery
Ayeesha and Akisha’s successful separation procedure is a momentous occasion that brings joy and hope, it added. “We celebrate this new chapter in their lives and wish them good health, happiness, and a bright future.”
It can be recalled that Saudi Ambassador to the Philippines Hisham bin Sultan Al-Qahtani tendered a diplomatic reception for the now-formerly conjoined twins at the Royal Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Makati City, Metro Manila, before they were flown on KSRelief special medical plane to Riyadh on May 5.
Al-Qahtani said then that King Salman, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques — Masjidil Haram and Masjidil Nabawi — issued a Royal Decree for the twins and their mother, Hashim M. Yusoph, and grandmother, Norelyn, separation surgery.
The Royal Decree approved the Filipino conjoined twins’ all-expense paid medical procedure and their accommodation. Hashima Yusoph and his mother Norelyn accompanied the twins to Riyadh.
“Masayang kami dahil matutupad na rin ang pangarap namin para sa kina Akisha and Ayeesha,” great-grandmother Ruth tells SDN — SciTech and Digital News. at the dinner reception, Saudi Embassy. (We are happy because our dreams for the twins Akisha and Ayeesha will be realized.)
These also are the words of the mother Hashima and grandmother Norelyn.
They also revealed that it was the Islamic Mercy Foundation in Davao City that endorsed them to the Saudi government for the twins’ operation.
Al-Qahtani said the Kingdom’s humanitarian work is reflective of one of its prominent achievements in the field of separating conjoined twins and providing outstanding medical care, making Saudi Arabia a pioneer in the field.
He noted that the Kingdom has already performed over 100 separation surgeries with recipients coming from poor families from many countries.
“It is expected that this noble humanitarian direction will positively impact the Filipino society, as it will help provide (the) conjoined twins the opportunity to receive necessary treatment and overcome the health challenges they face.”
Al-Qahtani assured that all expenses for the necessary services and procedures for the Filipino twins, including transportation and accommodation will be shouldered by the Arab State.
In a related information, SDN learned that the average cost of a separation surgery is around two million Saudi riyal (SR2 million), which in Philippine money is more or less Php30 million. (/)