According to a statement from the Ministry of Health, which VerAngola has seen, the babies—joined at the abdomen—arrived in the capital when they were just six days old, transported by the National Air Force. Since then, they have been monitored by several medical teams from the children's hospital to ensure they reached the ideal weight for the surgery, which took place just after their seventh month.
The complex surgical procedure involved a multidisciplinary team, composed exclusively of Angolan professionals, led by surgeon Luciano César Chinganda, who had the support of specialists in pediatric surgery, plastic surgery, anesthesiology, and intensive care.
Having been successfully separated, and after 72 hours, the twins are showing "satisfactory recovery" and are expected to be discharged in the coming days. They are clinically stable, in good nutritional status, fully recovering, and under constant supervision by the hospital's multidisciplinary medical team, the statement emphasizes.
"Each surgery is a unique challenge. We approach this mission with responsibility, dedication, and a humanistic spirit. Our greatest reward is the well-being of our patients and the satisfaction of their families," said the surgeon.
Hélio de Almeida, a pediatrician and the hospital's Pedagogical Director, highlighted the Executive's commitment to training national professionals and praised the impact of the Health Human Resources Training Project (UIP) Implementation Unit Program, led by the Ministry of Health. "Angola has demonstrated the technical and human capacity to face complex challenges in the healthcare sector. It is essential to strengthen this model and extend it to more hospitals across the country," he said.
The babies' mother, Margarida Cassete, 34, thanked everyone who made this positive outcome possible: "I am very happy. When I saw my daughters separated and well, I could only thank God and the entire medical team. I also thank the Provincial Government of Moxico and the Minister of Health, who supported us from the beginning."
This is the tenth such surgery to take place in the country, with seven having been performed at the Luanda Pediatric Hospital, already considered a national reference for the separation of conjoined twins.
The Minister of Health, Silvia Lutucuta, was present during the procedure and visited the babies at the hospital, accompanied by the Secretary of State for Public Health.
During the visit, the minister highlighted the success of the procedure as a symbol of the advancement of national medicine: "This is a great gain for our country and a victory for our medical school, which has demonstrated competence in various areas of pediatrics. It is also a reflection of the fruits of our independence: locally trained Angolan medical teams performing highly complex procedures with professionalism, humanism, and technical excellence," she stated.
The governor thanked the Ministry of Defense, through the National Air Force, for its support in promptly evacuating the babies from the interior of the state, which allowed for the immediate start of specialized medical care.
"This case is living proof that the continuous investment in the education and training of our professionals is bearing fruit. Angola has already recorded 10 surgeries to separate conjoined twins, seven of which were performed here at the David Bernardino Pediatric Hospital, which makes us very proud," the minister emphasized.
The visit concluded with words of encouragement to the families and healthcare professionals, who continue to closely monitor the babies' recovery, providing them with clinical care and psychosocial support.
