Members of the Usman family in Yobe State, Nigeria, are mourning the tragic loss of their twin sisters, Dr Hadiyah Usman and Dr Aidah Usman, who died 48 hours apart. The deceased were medical professionals, with Hadiyah being a doctor and Aidah a pharmacist. Their deaths have attracted condolences from Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, who described the losses as painful and devastating to the family, the medical profession, and the people of the state.
According to family members, Hadiyah, who was undergoing her internship at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Nguru, died on Friday after battling complications associated with sickle cell disease. Her twin sister, Aidah, a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) with the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH), passed away on Sunday. The twins were daughters of Prof. Hadiza Abdullahi Usman, a former chief medical director of FMC, Nguru, and a professor of gynaecological oncology and reproductive health.
A family member, Ibrahim Auwal, confirmed the deaths, describing them as devastating. He stated that both sisters had been battling sickle cell disease, and their deaths are a great loss to their family, friends, and colleagues. Another relative, Halima Abubakar Hammayo, also confirmed the deaths, describing the sisters as hardworking young professionals who pursued their careers despite living with the condition.
Family accounts reveal that Hadiyah had been receiving treatment at FMC Nguru for about a week after suffering a sickle cell crisis before she died. Her remains were subsequently buried following funeral prayers at the Emir’s Palace in Nguru. While the family was still mourning Hadiyah, her twin sister Aidah was reportedly receiving treatment at UMTH.
According to the family, Aidah initially responded to treatment and was later discharged. She subsequently accompanied her mother to Hadiyah’s graveside in Nguru to pray for her twin sister, where she collapsed and was taken for medical attention, but later died on Sunday. The twins shared a professional connection, reflecting their commitment to healthcare, with Hadiyah pursuing medicine and Aidah becoming a pharmacist.
Both Hadiyah and Aidah were young healthcare professionals whose careers were still developing in institutions dedicated to patient care. Their mother, Prof. Hadiza Usman, is a prominent figure in the health sector, having served as medical director and chief executive officer of FMC Nguru. She was the first woman to occupy the position at the institution, making the loss particularly painful for a family deeply connected to the medical profession.
Governor Mai Mala Buni expressed condolences to the family, describing the deaths of Hadiyah and Aidah as a painful and devastating loss. Some family members linked the deaths to complications associated with sickle cell disease, although the specific medical circumstances surrounding the deaths have not been independently established beyond the accounts provided by relatives.
Key points
- The twin sisters died 48 hours apart due to complications associated with sickle cell disease.
- The deceased were medical professionals, with Hadiyah being a doctor and Aidah a pharmacist.
- Governor Mai Mala Buni expressed condolences to the family, describing the deaths as a painful and devastating loss.
