The Filipino conjoined twins arrived in Riyadh following a royal directive for their separation
In accordance with the directives of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, may God protect them, King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh received the conjoined Filipino twins, Olivia and Gianna, along with their parents, arriving from the Republic of the Philippines. Upon arrival, the twins were immediately transferred to King Abdullah Specialist Children's Hospital at the Ministry of National Guard for necessary medical examinations and to assess the feasibility of separating them, a step that reflects the Kingdom's ongoing humanitarian approach.
The Saudi program for separating conjoined twins: a global leader
The arrival of the twins, Olivia and Gianna, is the latest in a long series of successes achieved by the Saudi Program for Separating Conjoined Twins, the first of its kind globally in terms of the number of operations and the diversity of cases coming from different continents. His Excellency Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Rabeeah, Advisor at the Royal Court, Supervisor General of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center, and Head of the Medical and Surgical Team, affirmed that this initiative embodies the deeply rooted humanitarian values of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which makes no distinction based on race, color, or religion, as Saudi Arabia's benevolent hand has extended to those in need across the globe.
The Saudi program has more than three decades of experience, during which the Saudi medical team supervised the study of more than 130 cases from dozens of countries, many of which culminated in successful separation operations with record success rates, making the Kingdom a global medical reference in this precise and complex specialty.
Reflecting the Kingdom's Vision 2030 and medical excellence
Dr. Al-Rabeeah expressed his deepest gratitude and appreciation to the wise leadership – may God support them – for the unlimited support they provide to the health sector and humanitarian work. He pointed out that this program is not only a humanitarian endeavor, but also a shining example of the significant development witnessed by the health sector in the Kingdom, which aligns with the objectives of Vision 2030. This ambitious vision seeks to elevate the healthcare system and place it among the best in the world by providing highly qualified medical professionals and state-of-the-art technology in integrated medical cities such as King Abdulaziz Medical City.
Feelings of gratitude and human impact
For their part, the family of the Filipino twins expressed their deepest gratitude to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, its leadership and people, praising the warm welcome and generous hospitality they received from the moment of their arrival. They affirmed that this kind humanitarian gesture restored their hope for a normal life for their daughters, and they commended the tremendous efforts of the medical team in ensuring the twins' well-being.
The Kingdom’s continued acceptance of such complex cases reinforces its position as a leading country in humanitarian work and medical diplomacy, and confirms its ethical commitment to global humanitarian issues, thus consolidating its image as a kingdom of humanity and peace.
