Liberian health authorities have confirmed reports of the death of twins recently born conjoined in Lofa County, northern Liberia.
The twins were given birth to in Tellewoyan, a government hospital in Voinjama, the capital of Lofa County on Saturday, June 11, 2022 physically connected to each other.
Prior to their death, the Liberian government through the Office of President George Weah directed the Minister of Health to immediately ensure that the twins are brought to Monrovia to be given the needed medical attention along with their mother.
The government had anticipated that if the twins could not get the needed medical care in Liberia they would have been taken aboard for advanced medical care, but die before they were brought to Monrovia.
It was reported that health authorities tried to provide best care for the twins before they passed.
A statement issued by the Ministry of Information immediately after hearing the unfortunate news, said, “The Liberian government was committed to amassing the resources necessary, as well as stakeholders in the sector, both local and international, to carry out the needed procedure that would have ensured the survival of the twins”.
The statement quotes President Weah as expressing sadness over the passing of the siamese twins and promised to reach out to the mother to ensure she gets the care and support she needs.
The twins (all boys), were joined at the chest, reducing a clear chance for their survival. They died two days after they were given birth to on June 13. Nearly 75 percent of Siamese twins are joined at least partially in the chest and share organs, and about 23 percent are connected at the lower torso, sharing hips, legs or genital parts. Survival rate rates for separation vary depending on the connection.
Siamese twins are two babies physically connected to each other, and develop when an early embryo only partially separates to form two individuals. Even though two fetuses will develop from this embryo, they will remain physically connected, most often at the chest, abdomen, or pelvis.
The birth of the conjoined twins makes the first in 7 years, with the last recorded in 2015 at the Joana Maternity Clinic located on Center Street, South Beach in Monrovia. They died the same day.
Babies born joined together is a rare medical phenomenon and has therefore become of particular interest to the International medical community.
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