Conjoined twins Di Cecea and Jesipeli Kikau are scheduled to leave Fiji on Wednesday to undergo multi-million-dollar separation surgery at King Salman Hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, according to Fiji’s Health Ministry. Born 10 months ago alongside their singleton sister Hossana at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital in Suva, the twins represent the first case of conjoined twins in Fiji in 20 years, according to statements from their mother, Akenata.
The Journey From Suva to Riyadh for Separation Surgery
The journey to Saudi Arabia follows an eight-month search by parents Akenata and Watisoni Vulimaiigiladi, residents of Rewa, to find a country to perform the complex procedure. According to the family, contenders included Australia and Saudi Arabia. The Saudi Arabian government ultimately agreed to fund the separation operation, along with airfares and accommodation, operating under a humanitarian program.
Fiji’s government is funding a medical escort to accompany the family on the journey. Fiji’s Health Ministry stated that the Saudi Arabian sponsorship demonstrates “incredible bilateral relations between the two countries”.
Medical History and Regional Precedent
The twins were born eight weeks premature at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital. At birth, attending physicians warned the parents that the infants might survive for only a few days. “We are grateful to the nurses, doctors and medical staff here at the hospital for their service,” Akenata said in a video released by Fiji’s Health Ministry.
Did you know? This is the second case of conjoined twins in the Pacific region in the past year. In October, brothers Sawong and Tom Kevin were born fused at the lower abdomen in a remote village in Papua New Guinea’s Morobe Province. Those brothers underwent emergency separation surgery at Sydney Children’s Hospital last December, though only Sawong survived.
Family Outlook Ahead of the Procedure
“We are thankful that the Ministry of Health can assist us, when we went back home [eight months ago] we were worried about the twins because I am affected when I watch them and see the other kids,” she said. “I get emotional, but I know that there is a living God who will ensure that they live.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Where will the separation surgery take place?
The surgery will take place at King Salman Hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Who is funding the medical procedure?
The government of Saudi Arabia is funding the multi-million-dollar surgery, airfares, and accommodation through a humanitarian program, while Fiji’s government is covering the cost of a medical escort.
When were the twins born?
Di Cecea and Jesipeli Kikau were born 10 months ago at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital in Suva, Fiji.
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