Dili, September 9, 2025 (Média Democracia) – Following a situation that went viral on social media Facebook, President José Ramos-Horta made an urgent intervention and instructed the Social Support Service Unit of the Presidential Office to directly assess and provide social assistance to a father and daughter living with physical and mental disabilities in Mulo village, Hato-Builico Administrative Post, Ainaro Municipality. The visit took place on 5 September 2025.
Armando Amaral de Deus (49), who lives with a physical disability, and his daughter, Joselina de Deus (23), who suffers from a severe spinal deformity caused by a burn injury, have been living without any form of social assistance despite their critical condition.
In an interview, health professional Zelia da Silva de Jesus, contracted at the Mau-Chiga Health Post, shared how she encountered the father and daughter.
“At around 17:48 in the afternoon, as dusk was falling and I was returning from work, I met an elderly man with a young woman. The grandfather was holding his granddaughter’s hand. I could see that the young woman was in a very unsafe condition, and I could also smell a bad odor from the situation. I stopped my motorbike and asked for information. I felt very sad to see them like this, so I decided to take them home and provide treatment,” said health professional Zelia da Silva de Jesus.
She added that after taking the initiative to bring the elderly father and his daughter home for basic medical treatment, the family had appealed for assistance to the Ministry of Social Solidarity and Inclusion (MSSI) and local authorities, but had not yet received any response.
After the case went viral on Facebook, earlier today, under the instruction of President José Ramos-Horta, a team from the Presidential Office through the Social Support Service (SAS), together with two Cuban specialist doctors, made a direct visit to the family in Ainaro.
The medical team sent by the President conducted consultations and decided to transfer the family to the Guido Valadares National Hospital (HNGV) in Dili, so they could receive appropriate medical treatment for their conditions.
Reporter: Domingas
Photo: Facebook Media