‘Miracle baby’ born on a tree dies
Rosita Salvador Mabuiango was once celebrated as a “miracle baby,” having been born in a tree where her mother had climbed to escape rising floodwaters. Sadly, nearly 26 years later, she has passed away after a prolonged illness, as her sister shared with the BBC.
The unforgettable image of the newborn and her mother being rescued by helicopter against the backdrop of a flooded landscape became one of the most iconic moments of the devastating Mozambique floods in 2000, which were the worst the country had ever experienced.
In remembering Rosita’s journey, President Daniel Chapo referred to her as a beacon of hope for girls throughout the nation.
In February 2000, the Limpopo River overflowed in southern Mozambique, leading to hundreds of fatalities and displacing countless others from their homes.
Carolina Cecilia Chirindza, Rosita’s mother, was among those who faced the turmoil of that crisis.
“It was a Sunday afternoon about four o’clock, and the waters began rising,” the Red Cross quoted her as saying later in 2000.
“The water was coming right up to the house and was getting stronger and stronger, so like everyone else in the village, we headed for the trees.
“I put my two small children on my back and tried to climb up. It was very difficult.
“There were 15 of us all together, and we were there for four days. We prayed and prayed.
“We had nothing to eat, and the children cried and cried, but we could do nothing for them.”
In the early hours of Wednesday morning, Carolina went into labor, and not long after, she and her newborn were spotted by a South African military helicopter that was part of the rescue efforts. They quickly became symbols of the disaster’s aftermath, and later in 2000, they traveled to the US to address Congress and raise awareness about the tragedy.
On Monday, her sister Celia Salvador shared the heartbreaking news of Rosita’s passing at the age of 25 with the BBC, stating that she had “passed away after a prolonged illness. I’m extremely sad. She died from an illness I can’t quite explain.”
Family sources revealed that Rosita had been struggling with the blood disorder anemia for several years. Unfortunately, her condition worsened, leading to a hospital stay of over two weeks, where she ultimately passed away on Monday morning.
“My God. Very bad news. My condolences to the bereaved family,” the president told the BBC.
“She was a symbol for girls in Mozambique. That’s why, I extend my condolences to all the Mozambican people, especially to Mozambican girls.”
Rosita spent her childhood with her family and graduated from high school in her hometown of Chibuto, where she was born. Five years ago, she became a mother herself.
Political analyst Charles Mangwiro referred to her passing as a “wake-up call for the government to enhance service delivery across the entire health system in the country.”
“You can’t expect to thrive when health professionals are voicing their frustrations daily about unpaid salaries for months and the lack of essential supplies like protective gear and antibiotics.”
Even though more health workers have been hired in recent years, analysts still point out that the health system is stretched thin and lacking basic medications and equipment.
Chibuto Mayor Henriques Machava informed the press that discussions were ongoing with the family to finalize the funeral arrangements, which he stated would be handled by the municipality.
‘Miracle baby’ born on a tree dies
