
United in thought, action and ailment
They may not be joined at the hip, but 23-year-old twins Hassana and Hussaina Saidu have more in common than other identical twins who, like them, look alike, dress alike and complete each other’s sentences.
What makes their story stranger than fiction is the fact that the two not only fall ill at the same time but have also undergone two surgeries together. The Saidu twins from Nigeria underwent surgery for toxic nodular goitre on the same day at Apollo Hospital last week and had an emergency surgery for appendicitis within weeks of each other, two years back.
The twins are now recovering in a private room with an added bed because they wanted to be together. “We usually fall ill together because we eat the same food and have very similar lifestyles and our family is used to it. But the need for two surgeries at the same time surprised everyone,” say Hassana and Hussaina. With both speaking for each other, it’s difficult to attribute a quote to either. The twins are two of 13 siblings and are in India with their mom for treatment.
Toxic nodular goitre occurs when the thyroid gland becomes overactive and causes rounded masses called nodules in the neck. “These nodules usually occur in women over 60. The fact that both developed such large nodules at such a young age is rare,” says Dr Arun Prasad, their surgeon at Apollo.
Though the doctors wanted the surgeries a day apart, the twins insisted they get operated upon the same day. “I’ve never seen two people with identical physiology. It is eerie. The second surgery went much faster because I knew exactly which structure lay where,” says Prasad.

Sanskrit was the 5th most used language in Rajya Sabha in 2019-20
- While Hindi and English have been mostly used during the proceedings of the House, members preferring to speak in the 21 other scheduled Indian languages has increased to over five times per sitting in 2020 compared to the 14-year period between 2004-17.

News updates from Hindustan Times: Delhi NCR air 'severe' and all the latest new

Flights, trains delayed, diverted, cancelled due to dense fog in Delhi

Delhi NCR air in severe category, temperatures to dip in northwest India
- Cold wave or 'severe’ cold wave conditions are also very likely over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and east Madhya Pradesh during the next two days

Rapid blood test to identify patients at highest risk of severe Covid-19

Covid-19: Nationwide vaccination drive to start today

Rest for at least half an hour: Centre's guideline ahead of vaccination Day 1

Covid-19 LIVE updates: India to vaccinate 3 lakh health care workers today

Number Theory: How much does an average Indian earn?

Farm laws: Bhupinder Hooda, other Congress leaders taken into custody over march

‘We are not in the game of greed for power’: Kumari Selja
- Haryana Congress chief Kumari Selja said that she hoped that Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) MLAs and Independents would vote against the Khattar government in Haryana assembly.

Sanitation workers, Padma awardee doctor, MP: List of 1st vaccine beneficiaries

Former minister Kamal Morarka dies at age of 74

Farmers' protest : 9th round of talks inconclusive, next meeting on Jan 19
