Fiji Twins' Life-Saving Surgery in Saudi Arabia

Rare conjoined twins, Di Cecea and Jesipeli Kikau, born ten months ago in Fiji, are embarking on a journey to Saudi Arabia for a complex separation surgery. They were born prematurely alongside a triplet sister at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital in Suva. Initially given only days to live by doctors, the twins have overcome significant odds, much to the relief of their mother, Akenata.

The family has spent eight months seeking a country to perform the critical surgery. Following consideration of options including Australia, the Saudi Arabian government stepped in, offering to fund the multi-million dollar operation. This humanitarian gesture also covers the family's airfares and accommodation in Riyadh, where the surgery will take place at King Salman Hospital.

The twins, along with their parents, are scheduled to depart Fiji for Saudi Arabia on Wednesday. Fiji's government is facilitating the travel by covering the cost of a medical escort. This international cooperation highlights strong bilateral relations, with the Saudi assistance being a testament to growing global humanitarian efforts.

This case is the second of conjoined twins in the Pacific region within the past year. Notably, a similar situation occurred in Papua New Guinea, where twin brothers underwent separation surgery in Sydney, though tragically only one survived.