Ainaro, October 16, 2025 (Média Democracia) – A disabled family from Querudo Village, Mulo Suco, Hatubuilico Post, Ainaro Municipality, who received humanitarian assistance from the President of the Republic, José Ramos-Horta, has now returned home in good condition after undergoing a month of medical treatment at the Guido Valadares National Hospital (HNGV) in Dili.
Armando Amaral de Deus (49), who has been blind for over 20 years, and his daughter Joselina de Deus, who has a physical disability, were living in extremely poor conditions. Joselina developed a severe back infection after falling near a cooking fire, which later became life-threatening as the infection spread. The family lived in a small hut covered with palm leaves and white soil, with no light and in a state of daily hardship and danger.
The two had decided to walk to a distant health post for treatment, but on the way they were met by midwife Zélia da Silva de Jesus, who immediately brought them to her home and provided medical assistance. She later shared their situation on social media, and the post went viral, eventually reaching President José Ramos-Horta. That same night, the President issued an urgent directive to his Social Support Unit to respond immediately.
According to Teresa dos Santos Ximenes, the General Coordinator of the Presidential Social Support Service who directly accompanied the family said, “that night, His Excellency President Ramos-Horta sent an urgent message, and early the next morning I contacted the President’s medical specialists, Dr. Ariel and Dr. Yasmin, to arrange medical transportation for Armando and his daughter Joselina from Ainaro to Dili. The team was immediately deployed to transfer them to HNGV.”
During their month-long stay at HNGV, doctors performed eye surgery (cataract removal) on Armando and provided medical treatment for Joselina. Both are now in good health and have returned home to Hatubuilico.
Midwife Zélia da Silva de Jesus, who first discovered and helped the family, expressed her deep gratitude to the President for his compassion and swift action.
“I sincerely thank President José Ramos-Horta for his great kindness in helping this family. Armando has begun to regain his sight, and Joselina’s health has greatly improved,” she said in Ainaro.
The Presidency has also pledged to build a decent home for the family so they can live with dignity within their community.
Local authority Superson Mendonça welcomed the family’s return with joy and called on the government to continue prioritizing other families with disabilities in Querudo Village, where more than 30 households still live in difficult conditions, without access to electricity or proper roads. Residents must walk more than an hour to reach the national road.
Report: Média PR
Photo: Média PR