Saudi Arabia Offers Life-Changing Surgery for Conjoined Twins in Manila

A team of Saudi medical professionals has arrived in Manila, Philippines, to transport 16-month-old conjoined twins, Akhizah and Ayeesha Yusoph, to Riyadh for a separation surgery. The girls, born in December 2022 in Panabo City, share a liver.

The young twins will be flown to Saudi Arabia aboard a special medical aircraft on Sunday. This heartwarming development follows a period of uncertainty for their mother, Hashima Yusoph. Upon discovering the girls’ condition during a prenatal ultrasound, Hashima was understandably overwhelmed. Determined to provide her daughters with the best possible care, she sought help through a local charity.

Fortunately, their plight connected them with the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief). Established in 2015 by King Salman and led by the renowned pediatric surgeon Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, KSrelief boasts a remarkable track record. Since 1990, their Saudi Conjoined Twins Program has successfully separated over 130 children from 25 different countries.

A reception was held in Manila to honor both the Yusoph family and the KSrelief team. The Saudi Ambassador, Hisham Al-Qahtani, emphasized the Kingdom’s commitment to humanitarian work, particularly under the leadership of King Salman. He highlighted Saudi Arabia’s pioneering role in conjoined twin separation surgeries, providing exceptional medical care for these special cases.

Hashima expressed her immense gratitude: “I’m so happy it’s finally happening… The doctors said they are very fit to undergo surgery. This is really life changing for us.”

Conjoined twins are a rare occurrence, affecting roughly 1 in every 50,000 to 60,000 births. This surgery offers Akhizah and Ayeesha the chance to live separate and fulfilling lives. It’s worth noting that this isn’t the first time Saudi Arabia has extended such a life-saving opportunity to Filipino twins. In March 2004, another pair of conjoined twins, Ann and Mae Manzo, successfully underwent separation surgery in Riyadh by Dr. Al-Rabeeah and his team.

This story exemplifies the power of international collaboration and the unwavering commitment to healthcare excellence demonstrated by Saudi Arabia’s leadership and medical professionals.