After Burying One Twin, FMC Nguru Director Loses Her Other Daughter Two Days Later

The Medical Director, Professor Hadiza Abdullahi Usman, lost her daughters Hadiyah, a medical doctor, and Aidah, a pharmacist, within 48 hours after complications associated with sickle cell disease.

By Abdullahi Yusuf

Professor Hadiza Abdullahi Usman, Medical Director of the Federal Medical Centre, Nguru, Yobe State, has lost her twin daughters within two days of each other, after both suffered complications associated with sickle cell disease.

Dr Hadiyah Usman Abdullahi, a medical doctor, died on Friday, October 2, while her twin sister, Pharm Aidah Usman Abdullahi, a pharmacist, died on Sunday, October 4.

The sisters’ deaths came as their family was still mourning Hadiyah. She had been admitted at FMC Nguru for about a week after suffering a sickle cell crisis before she died on Friday.

Hadiyah was subsequently buried after funeral prayers at the Emir’s Palace in Nguru. Her twin sister, Aidah, had been receiving treatment at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital around the same period and was reportedly discharged after her condition improved.

Two days later, after attending Hadiyah’s burial, Aidah visited her twin sister’s grave. She reportedly fainted shortly after the visit and was rushed to hospital, where she died.

The Federal Medical Centre, Nguru, confirmed Aidah’s death in a post on its Facebook page, describing her as the “second twin” of Professor Usman.

The deaths have brought profound grief to a family whose two daughters had themselves entered the healthcare profession. Hadiyah was a medical doctor, while Aidah was a pharmacist.

The loss is also being felt within the medical community in Yobe and Borno, where Professor Usman has spent more than three decades in clinical practice, academia, research and healthcare administration.

According to FMC Nguru, Professor Usman is a Professor of Gynaecological Oncology and Reproductive Health and was appointed the centre’s fourth Medical Director and Chief Executive Officer on November 18, 2022, becoming the first woman to hold the position. (FMC NGURU)

Following Hadiyah’s burial, Professor Usman issued an appreciation message thanking relatives, friends, colleagues, professional associations, religious leaders, traditional rulers, government officials, members of staff of FMC Nguru and other well-wishers for their support.

“I am deeply touched by the overwhelming show of love, solidarity, prayers and support we received from family members, friends, colleagues, professional associations, religious leaders, traditional rulers, government officials, members of staff of the Federal Medical Centre, Nguru, and well-wishers from far and near,” she said.

She specifically thanked those who travelled long distances to attend the burial, saying their presence brought comfort to the family and reminded them that they were not alone in their grief.

Professor Usman also expressed gratitude to those who could not attend but offered prayers, sent condolence messages, made telephone calls or supported the family in other ways.

Writing about Hadiyah’s death before Aidah’s passing, she described the loss of a child as a painful experience that words could hardly capture and prayed for her daughter’s forgiveness, mercy and admission into Jannatul Firdaus.

She also prayed for strength, patience and fortitude for the family to bear what she described as an “irreparable loss”.

At the time of that message, Professor Usman was mourning one daughter. Two days later, she was confronted with the death of her twin sister.

She ended her appreciation message with a prayer for those who had supported the family, asking Almighty Allah to reward their kindness, protect their families and spare them from such painful trials.

Sickle cell disease is an inherited blood disorder that can cause severe pain and serious complications. The World Health Organisation says sickle-shaped red blood cells can block blood flow, leading to pain, anaemia, organ damage and other potentially life-threatening complications.

The deaths of Hadiyah and Aidah, occurring just 48 hours apart, have left their family, friends and colleagues mourning the loss of two young healthcare professionals.

Flash News