Nigerian conjoined twins successfully separated in India

A set of conjoined twins, James and John Ugwoke, have undergone a successful surgery at the Narayana-Health-Mazundar Shaw Medical Centre, Bangalore, India.

According to the parents, Obinna and his wife Amarachi, the children were born joined at the stomach on May 8, 2017 at the First Covenant Hospital, Satellite Town in Lagos.


While doctors recommended that the twins be separated as soon as possible, the couple could not afford the N11m fee that was needed for the operation in India.

Help, however, came the way of the Ugwokes when the Archangels’ Catholic Church, Satellite Town, Lagos, decided to take over the fundraiser for the surgery.

The Parish Priest, Rev Vincent Ezeue, in a statement on behalf of the family on Thursday, said the church was able to raise the funds with the help of members and well-meaning Nigerians.

The statement read, “On learning of the plight of this young family,  Rev.Fr. Vincent Ezeue went to see them at the hospital and promised to do something to save the lives of the babies. The parish immediately launched a campaign early October to raise money for the treatment of the twins abroad.

“Time was rapidly running out as of this time; the twins were already five months going to six and doctors had recommended that the surgery be done as soon as possible. It is now on record that far beyond all expectations, the amount was raised within a month. The surgery was performed in November without the slightest hitch. As a matter of fact, the twins were able to breastfeed just hours after their operation.”