Twin Sisters, Doctor and Pharmacist, Die Days Apart After Sickle Cell Battle in Yobe

Twin sisters, Dr Hadiya Usman and Dr Aidah Usman, have died days apart after battling sickle cell disease in Yobe State, leaving their family and colleagues devastated.

Hadiya, a medical doctor, was undergoing her internship at the Federal Medical Centre, Nguru, while her twin sister, Aidah, worked as a pharmacist at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital before their deaths.

The sisters were daughters of Prof Hadiza Abdullahi Usman, the Medical Director of the Federal Medical Centre, Nguru. A family member, Ibrahim Auwal, confirmed their deaths on Monday, saying the sisters passed away within days of each other.

Hadiya died on Friday after spending about a week at the Federal Medical Centre, Nguru, where she had been receiving treatment following a sickle cell crisis. Her death came first, before her twin sister also died two days later.

Aidah was receiving treatment at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital around the same period. She reportedly recovered sufficiently to be discharged before her condition later worsened, resulting in her death on Sunday.

Auwal described the deaths as a painful loss for the family, friends and colleagues of the sisters. He said both women were hardworking professionals with promising careers and that losing them within such a short period had left their loved ones devastated.

The sisters were reportedly buried according to Islamic rites. Their deaths have also drawn attention to the challenges faced by people living with sickle cell disease, particularly during severe health crises.