In a touching encounter that embodies the profound bonds of humanity that transcend borders, Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Rabeeah, Advisor at the Royal Court and Supervisor General of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center, received Polish twins Olga and Daria at the Center's headquarters in Riyadh. This meeting comes 21 years after their historic and successful separation surgery at King Abdulaziz Medical City of the National Guard, a pivotal moment in their lives.
During the meeting, Olga and Daria expressed their deep gratitude and appreciation to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, its leadership and people, and to the Saudi medical team, led by Dr. Al-Rabeeah, who oversaw their care. They emphasized that this generous humanitarian gesture not only granted them the opportunity to live separately but also enabled them to experience a normal childhood, live independently, and realize dreams that once seemed impossible.
The Saudi Program for Separating Conjoined Twins: A Legacy of Giving and Medical Leadership
The story of the Polish twins is one of the many success stories of the Saudi program for separating conjoined twins, which was launched in 1990 and has become a global leader in complex surgeries. Dr. Al-Rabeeah explained that this global achievement would not have been possible without the unlimited support and keen interest of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman – may God protect them both.
Over the course of 35 years, the program has made a clear humanitarian impact, studying and evaluating 155 cases from 28 countries worldwide and successfully performing 67 complex separation surgeries, giving hope and a new lease on life to dozens of families. The program has become a leading destination for complex cases from across the globe, reflecting international confidence in Saudi medical expertise and the Kingdom's advanced healthcare system.
Importance beyond medicine: Humanitarian diplomacy enhances the Kingdom's standing
The importance of the Saudi program extends beyond the medical field, forming a cornerstone of the Kingdom's humanitarian diplomacy. It embodies the Kingdom's noble mission of serving humanity wherever it may be, without discrimination based on race, religion, or nationality. These initiatives reinforce the Kingdom's position as a leading nation in global humanitarian work, a fact underscored by international statistics and rankings that consistently place it at the forefront of aid donor countries.
The return of Olga and Daria today as two young women enjoying good health and a normal life is the most eloquent evidence of the lasting impact of Saudi humanitarian work, and a powerful message that the Kingdom’s giving does not end with the end of the surgical operation, but extends to create a better future for its beneficiaries around the world.
