JEDDAH: On Nov. 24, the world marks the second UN World Conjoined Twins Day, celebrating courage and compassion while calling for stronger global support for children with disabilities.
Saudi Arabia continues to lead in this field through the Saudi Conjoined Twins Program, headed by Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, supervisor-general of KSrelief, which has earned international recognition since its launch in 1990.
To date, the program has assessed 152 cases from 28 countries across five continents. KSrelief is Saudi Arabia’s worldwide aid agency.
The Saudi Press Agency reports that 67 procedures have been carried out at King Abdulaziz Medical City, supported by King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
The program has become a symbol of medical excellence and humanitarian leadership, offering hope to families facing complex medical conditions.
According to the SPA, the initiative is part of the Kingdom’s broader humanitarian medical portfolio through KSrelief.
The program fully covers surgery, treatment, rehabilitation, transportation, accommodation, and hosting for the children and their families, ensuring parental proximity and a supportive recovery environment.
To mark over 30 years of the program, KSrelief held an international conference from Nov. 24 to 25, 2024, bringing together ministers, policymakers, and global experts.
The event coincided with the UN-recognized day, an observance initiated by Saudi Arabia, and was the first conference dedicated exclusively to such cases.
During the conference, KSrelief signed cooperation agreements to enhance long-term post-separation support, including healthcare, education, and social services in the twins’ home countries.
A linked data platform will ensure ongoing monitoring and follow-up, marking a milestone in integrated care.
Further agreements were signed with Imperial College London and Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children in the UK to advance research, knowledge exchange, international coordination, and the global registry of conjoined twins.
A memorandum was also concluded with the Ministry of Defense’s Aeromedical Evacuation Department to support specialized medical transport.
To mark the UN day, an event themed “From Words to Action” was hosted by KSrelief, UNICEF, and the Permanent Mission of Saudi Arabia to the UN, emphasizing the need to ensure every child can access healthcare, education, protection, and inclusion.
Conjoined twins represent one of the rarest and most complex medical and social challenges, reflecting the broader obstacles faced by millions of children with disabilities worldwide, from limited healthcare access to barriers in learning and participation.
Al-Rabeeah emphasized that the program “has shown that with expertise, compassion, and determination, children with complex medical conditions can be given a new chance at life.
“Our commitment, alongside UNICEF’s, is clear: no child should be denied care or dignity because of a disability.”
