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Spain performs first ever intestine transplant in the world on 13-month-old baby

A hospital in Spain’s capital Madrid performed the world's first intestine transplant from a donor whose heart had stopped beating to a 13-month-old girl with intestinal failure, Madrid's health minister announced on Tuesday (Oct 11).
The recipient named Emma had been diagnosed with the intestine problem since she was a month old, at times, there was little hope that doctors could save her.
After studying the idea, deciding Emma was a good candidate and finding a donor, doctors performed the unprecedented surgery. She has already been discharged and is said to be in “perfect health.”
"Our salvation came the moment she went into that operating room. Our life has done a full 180-turn because she's gotten so much better … she's already starting to crawl," said Emma's father at a press conference.
"It's important to emphasize what this transplant represents now and what it will represent in Spain and the rest of the world. We are talking about a global milestone and an absolutely pioneering intervention," said Beatriz Dominguez Gil, head of the Spanish National Transplant Organization.
"This is very promising for other children who may be in the same situation as Emma."

Spain stands out for being a worldwide reference in organ donation and transplantation.
In 2019, the country reached a transplantation rate of 114.8 patients per million inhabitants, second only to the United States, which achieved more than 116 transplanted patients per million population.
In 2021, nearly 5,000 transplants were performed in Spain, according to the Spanish Health Ministry, up 8% from 2020.
Foreign tourism to Spain increases in August, but remains below pre-pandemic level
A large part of Spain's success comes down to the activity of the National Transplant Organization (ONT) and the implementation of the so-called Spanish model.
This model comprises a series of measures aimed at encouraging organ donation and has made possible to greatly increase the number of donors since it was first introduced.
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BENEFIT Sponsors BuildHer...
- April 23, 2025
BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”
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