Dr. Al-Rabeeah: Saudi Arabia Leads Global Efforts to Uphold Rights of Children with Disabilities and Conjoined Twins

     New York, November 26, 2025, SPA -- Advisor at the Royal Court and Supervisor General of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah affirmed Saudi Arabia’s global leadership, through KSrelief, in advancing the rights of children with disabilities and ensuring their full inclusion in society. He said these efforts have strengthened the Kingdom’s position as an international advocate for children with disabilities and conjoined twins, and he urged renewed commitments to secure their access to healthcare, education, and psychological and social support.
   His remarks came during a dialogue session held in New York in cooperation with UNICEF as part of an event marking World Conjoined Twins Day, themed “From Words to Action: A World Ready to Support Conjoined Twins and Children with Disabilities.” The session was attended by Saudi Arabia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Wasil.
   Dr. Al-Rabeeah explained that conjoined twins represent a rare condition resulting from incomplete fetal separation, requiring high-level specialized medical care. He highlighted the importance of early prenatal diagnosis, the potential for surgical separation, individualized treatment plans, and respect for cultural and ethical considerations. He added that managing such cases requires a multidisciplinary medical team.
   Addressing medical approaches, he noted that surgical separation, when viable, is supported by advanced imaging technologies, including 3D printing and medical simulation, while non-surgical plans focus on supportive care and rehabilitation. Treatment decisions, he said, depend on the type of conjoining, shared organs, urgency of medical need, available expertise, the best interests of the twins, and the values of their families.
   Dr. Al-Rabeeah also underscored the long-term medical, psychological, and social needs of conjoined twins, emphasizing that outcomes vary widely based on the nature of shared organs and the complexity of each case. He stressed that international cooperation can play a pivotal role in raising awareness, improving education, and promoting the integration of conjoined twins and children with disabilities into their communities, while safeguarding their dignity and rights.
   -- SPA