MAUTH Yola Successfully Separates Conjoined Twins

Modibbo Adama University Teaching Hospital (MAUTH), Yola, has successfully separated conjoined twins in a three-hour operation that has further cemented the facility’s reputation as a centre of excellence in paediatric surgery.

The procedure, which took place on Monday afternoon, involved four-month-and-two-week-old twin boys joined at the abdominal region. This marks the sixth successful separation of conjoined twins in the history of the hospital, formerly known as the Federal Medical Centre, Yola, before its upgrade to a teaching hospital in 2022.

Leading the team was Professor Abubakar Auwal, a renowned Professor of Paediatric Surgery and former Chief Medical Director of the hospital. He described the operation as another testimony to the skill and readiness of the experienced surgical team.

“In this hospital, this is the sixth separation, but the team has had two such surgeries in Maiduguri,” Professor Auwal stated, referring to his earlier work at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital. As previously reported by NaijaChoice News, MAUTH has built a solid track record in handling these rare and delicate cases, with patients now travelling from across the country to access care here.

Professor Auwal explained that the hospital now possesses the state-of-the-art equipment and full institutional support needed to manage critical paediatric conditions locally. “Patients no longer need to travel abroad for world-class care,” he added.

He further disclosed that the entire surgery was performed free of charge, courtesy of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), which has continued to fund resources and interventions for paediatric surgery at MAUTH.

Dr Salihu Bakari, TETFund Director, Centre for Excellence, who was present at the facility, expressed delight at the outcome. He revealed that MAUTH is among only 30 centres nationwide selected for substantial investment, including N500 million in 2026 for research and medical development.

“I am very happy because this is exactly why the centre was established – to give ordinary people world-class medical attention locally,” Dr Bakari said.

The Chief Medical Director of MAUTH, Professor Adamu Bakari, showered praises on the entire medical team and supporting staff for yet another landmark achievement. He noted that the hospital’s designation as a TETFund Centre of Excellence for paediatric surgery has turned it into a national destination for complex procedures like conjoined twin separation.

“Patients from every part of Nigeria now patronise MAUTH for these specialised interventions,” the CMD declared.

The twins’ father, Shuaibu Jibir, a resident of Taraba State, could not hide his joy and gratitude. He confirmed that the surgery was completely free and thanked the hospital authorities and TETFund for their intervention.

Tragically, the twins’ mother passed away shortly after giving birth, leaving Jibir to shoulder the responsibility alone.

With this latest feat, MAUTH Yola continues to prove that Nigeria’s teaching hospitals can compete favourably with the best in the world when adequately supported, saving families from the huge costs of seeking treatment overseas while training the next generation of medical professionals.