Limpopo province has made history after conjoined twin boys born in January at Mankweng Hospital outside Polokwane were successfully separated in a seven-hour surgical procedure on Tuesday.
The twins were born on January 28, with initial assessments indicating they were joined at the abdomen.
They underwent a complex separation surgery led by Professor Nyaweleni Tshifularo.
The operation, which began at about 7:45am and concluded shortly after 3pm, lasted approximately eight hours.
Tshifularo said the procedure was highly complex because the twins were joined at the trunk and shared certain organs.
“This is indeed a great day for the province, the country and for my team, including the specialist nurses I work with,” he said.
“As we have said before, these were identical twins whose separation was incomplete during development. They were delivered here, and after assessing our capabilities, we decided to proceed with the surgery locally.
“We are pleased to report that the babies have been successfully separated. They are alive, they are well, and their mother is overwhelmed with joy,” he said.
He added that the team began preparations early in the morning, including a session of pastoral care for support before the procedure.
“We started at 7:45am and by 3:10pm we were done. The babies were joined at the trunk, shared some organs, which made the surgery highly complex. However, we delivered, and we are very excited,” he said.
The twins were born to a 29-year-old woman and were referred from Maphutha Malatjie Hospital in Namakgale.
Medical staff there identified the condition during labour and arranged an urgent transfer.
Limpopo Premier Dr Phophi Ramathuba described the operation as a historic achievement for the province’s healthcare system.
“Today we mark a remarkable milestone in our provincial healthcare journey,” she said.
She praised staff at both Maphutha Malatjie Hospital and Mankweng Hospital for their swift and effective response.
“When the mother presented with no prior history, doctors and midwives were able to detect the condition through ultrasound and immediately transferred her. Mankweng Hospital acted quickly and delivered the babies within an hour.”
Ramathuba said the successful operation demonstrates the growing capability of rural healthcare facilities.
“This is not just a triumph for the medical team, but a celebration of hope, determination and community spirit,” she said.
“For the first time in South Africa, a rural hospital has carried out such a high-level procedure. This achievement changes the healthcare landscape in our province and reaffirms the potential of rural hospitals.”
She added that the twins are in a stable condition following the surgery.
“They have been transferred to the neonatal intensive care unit, where they remain under close medical supervision. They are intubated and on ventilators as part of their post-operative care,” she said.
IOL News
Simon Majadibodu
iol.co.za
