Dilemma in Bayelsa over birth of Siamese twins

Mike Odiegwu, Yenagoa

Bayelsa State health sector has been thrown into dilemma following the birth of Siamese twins to the family of Raphael Ayebaenaemi by his 24-year-old wife, Ebiyefa. It was gathered that the conjoined twins were born through a caesarian operation at the Nembe General Hospital, Nembe Local Government Area, on December 12 at about 11am. The father of the twins told The Nation that the babies were glued at their abdomen, which required a surgical procedure to separate them. Raphael said the general hospital where the caesarian operation was carried out referred them to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Yenagoa, for further investigations and treatments.

It was gathered that the mother of the twins was also at the FMC receiving treatment after the operation. The combined weight of the babies, first children of the family, was said to be 5.8kg at birth. Raphael said following the referral, the twins were brought to FMC on Friday at about 5pm but were undergoing some medical procedures. Raphael said: “I have no money, not even a dime. I am happy that my wife gave birth to twins but when I discovered that the twins were conjoined and they were born through a caesarian operation, my heart skipped.

“But a youth leader, Gabriel Jonah, from our community came to my aide. He paid the money for all the hospital bills at Nembe and even gave us money to take the twins to FMC Yenagoa. We came to FMC on Friday, a day after the birth of the twins. The hospital placed them on drips and said they would carry out some tests. Nothing has been said about the surgery to separate them. We want the hospital to be fast about the whole thing so that the twins can get their freedom. We thank Jonah for coming to our aide and for volunteering to assist us more. But we are appealing to all our leaders and non-governmental Organisations to intervene and help us to get through this”.

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But the FMC management said all its experts, consultants and doctors were carrying out further verifications on the conjoined twins to ascertain the right and proper surgical process involved in their separation. The Head Clinical Services, FMC, Dr. James Enimi Omietimi, said the hospital was making efforts to ensure the twins were in stable conditions as further medical examinations were being carried out. Omietimi, who is a gynecologist  and obstetrician, said a Siamese case requires proper planning and assemblage of a team of experts.

Already, a group, the Timiore Sylva Support Organisation (TSO) said it would draw the attention of the former governor and Minister of Petroleum, Chief Timipre Sylva, to the matter. The Director -General, TSO, Wilfred Ogbotobo, said the matter required urgent attention from the Federal Government and commended Gabriel Jonah for assisting the family.  “Our prayers and kind thoughts are with the parents and family of these babies. We assure them that the matter will receive a timely attention from His Excellency, Chief Timipre Sylva, Honourable Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and leader of APC in Bayelsa State, and his wife and family,” he said.