Limpopo Premier Dr. Phophi Ramathuba beams with pride following a historic medical breakthrough, as Limpopo doctors successfully separate conjoined twins in a rare and complex procedure.. Picture Credit: Facebook
By Aisha Zardad
Limpopo — Limpopo has marked a major medical milestone after a pair of conjoined twin boys, born in January at Mankweng Hospital outside Polokwane, were successfully separated in a highly complex operation on Tuesday.
Born on January 28, the twins were initially found to be joined at the abdomen. A specialised surgical team, led by Professor Nyaweleni Tshifularo, later confirmed the extent of the connection and prepared for a delicate separation procedure.
The surgery began at around 7:45am and was completed shortly after 3pm, lasting close to eight hours. According to Tshifularo, the operation presented significant challenges, as the twins were joined at the trunk and shared certain vital organs, requiring careful and precise intervention.
“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 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, born to a 29-year-old mother, were initially delivered at Maphutha Malatjie Hospital in Namakgale. Medical staff identified the condition during labour and acted swiftly, arranging an urgent transfer to ensure the babies received specialised care.
Limpopo Premier Phophi Ramathuba hailed the successful procedure as a defining moment for Limpopo’s healthcare system, describing it as a historic breakthrough for the province.
“Today we mark a remarkable milestone in our provincial healthcare journey,” she said. She praised staff at both referring and receiving hospitals 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 further confirmed that the twins are recovering well and remain in a stable condition following the procedure.
“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.”
