AGUSTÂNIA — Born healthy, now battling an unknown illness and extreme poverty

 

 

AGUSTÂNIA — A MOTHER’S CRY FOR HELP

A child who was born healthy, but today struggles against an unknown illness and extreme poverty.

Hello, I am Sofonie Dala, and today we will talk about health, human dignity, and the silent suffering of an Angolan family.

 

Between 2022 and 2023, many people followed with affection one of the most beloved babies from our community programs: little Agustânia. She was a beautiful, strong, healthy, and lively child at birth. But now, as she approaches her 4th birthday, the girl’s reality worries and shocks everyone who has followed her growth.

According to her mother, Mrs. Luísa, Agustânia began showing health problems shortly after turning one year and a few months old. First came difficulties with her eyes, then problems with her feet, and over time it became clear that she was experiencing severe delays in physical, intellectual, and speech development.

While other children her age are already talking, playing, walking, and able to ask for or look for what they want, Agustânia still displays behaviors similar to those of a newborn baby. The girl barely speaks — she only says “mama” and “papa” — and is only now learning how to crawl.

Her mother also reports that her daughter spends most of the time crying, constantly wants to be carried, and suffers from several health problems, including frequent illnesses, skin problems, and changes in her teeth, which wear down but do not fall out normally.

The family’s suffering is even greater because Mrs. Luísa says she does not know exactly what disease her daughter has. Without financial resources, without employment, and living below the poverty line, the mother struggles daily to keep her five children alive.

The family has lived for more than a decade in a metal shack in the rural settlements of Viana, in Luanda, in an area with extremely poor living conditions. The environment where they live encourages the spread of disease, further worsening the situation of the child and the entire family.

Today, Mrs. Luísa cries out for help.
Medical help.
Social help.
Human help.

Agustânia’s case is a warning about the reality faced by thousands of Angolan families who struggle with undiagnosed illnesses, extreme poverty, and lack of proper access to healthcare.

Conclusion — An Appeal to Society

Agustânia’s story is not only about a sick child. It is about inequality, social abandonment, and the urgent need for investment in public healthcare, basic sanitation, and child protection.

We need to look at these families with greater humanity and social responsibility. No child should grow up without a diagnosis, without treatment, and without the minimum conditions for a dignified life.

SDGs Related to Agustânia’s Case

SDG 1 — No Poverty

Combat the extreme poverty faced by the family.

SDG 3 — Good Health and Well-Being

Ensure access to medical care, diagnosis, and proper treatment.

SDG 6 — Clean Water and Sanitation

Improve the sanitary and environmental conditions of the community.

SDG 10 — Reduced Inequalities

Support vulnerable families and children with disabilities.

SDG 11 — Sustainable Cities and Communities

Promote safe and dignified housing for families living in precarious conditions.

SDG 16 — Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

Encourage public policies focused on social and child protection.