Joseph Isangura
Conjoined twins from Tanzania, Hassan and Hussein Amri Jumanne, have returned home after a transformative surgical procedure that separated them and gave them a chance at independent lives.
The boys, born joined at the hips, chest, and with three legs, were first brought to the National Hospital Muhimbili (MNH) in Dar es Salaam in 2021, when they were just two weeks old. Their journey at MNH included 11 months of care before they were flown to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for the specialized surgery.
Dr. Rachel Mhaville, representing the hospital’s management, highlighted the significance of the twins’ progress and their continued treatment at MNH. Despite having the resources for complex surgeries, the unique nature of Hassan and Hussein’s condition necessitated additional expertise, which Saudi Arabia provided. The government arranged for the boys’ travel and the 16-hour separation surgery at King Abdulaziz Hospital.
Dr. Mhaville expressed her gratitude to the Saudi government for making the surgery possible, emphasizing that their support was pivotal in giving the twins a future of independence. The boys will remain under medical observation at MNH as they continue to recover and adapt to their new way of life.
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Dr. Mhaville also called on Tanzanians to help improve the living situation for the twins’ mother, Mrs. Hadija Shabani. Coming from a modest background in Igunga, Tabora, Mrs. Shabani would greatly benefit from support that could enable her to care for her children effectively.
Mrs. Shabani herself expressed profound thanks to both the Saudi and Tanzanian governments for their instrumental roles in her sons’ journey. Dr. Zaituni Bokhary, a specialist in pediatric surgery at MNH, noted that a team of surgeons with expertise in vascular and pediatric urology conducted the surgery, demonstrating the depth of collaboration required for such an ambitious medical feat.
