L-R: Diana Ekpenyong, Events & Sponsorships Coordinator Arik Air; Adebanji Ola, PR & Communications Manager Arik Air; Ayeni Samuel Olusegun, Father of conjoined twins, Mother of Conjoined twins Mrs. Ayeni Mary Abiodun; Efe Farinre, Founder Linking Hands Foundation and Jide Alade, Associate Vice President Marketing and Communications, Arik Air during the presentation of return tickets to New York for conjoined twins, Miracle and Testimony Ayeni at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja over the weekend.
Arik Air, West and Central Africa’s largest airline has sponsored the return tickets to New York for conjoined twins, Miracle and Testimony Ayeni to have immediate access to medical care and surgery that they require.
An online statement by the Public Relations and Communications Manager, Adebanji Ola said that the airline is offering this support in partnership with Linking Hands Foundation, a non-governmental organisation which has secured free medical treatment for the twins at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA.
Arik Air, he stated would sponsor the twins as the airlines own little way of not only ensuring that the Ayeni twins get needed medical treatment speedily but also to assist the family in reducing some of the financial burden associated with this trip.
The Founder of Linking Hands Foundation, Efe Farinre while thanking Arik Air for accepting to fly the twins and their family said Miracle and Testimony Ayeni were born on November 16 2015, at St. Patrick Hospital Enugu, to Mr Samuel Olusegun Ayeni and Mrs Mary Abiodun Ayeni, both of Kogi State, Nigeria.
The twin girls who are conjoined in the pelvic region were taken to The University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Enugu immediately after delivery.
They were moved to Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) on April 22 and have been under medical supervision.
According to Farinre, “We are grateful to Arik Air for linking hands with us to give Miracle and Testimony Ayeni the opportunity to have individual lives. Through this invaluable support, Arik Air has given the twins a chance to live and yet again demonstrated leadership in corporate social responsibility.”
On his part, Arik Air’s Chief Commercial Officer, Suraj Sundaram said, “Arik Air has been committed to the community since its inception having contributed to various charitable activities through a number of events, programs and initiatives. In this instance, our support will enable these twins access to specialized medical care and give them an opportunity to build a healthy and productive future they deserve.”
