Dili,February 18 (AseanAll)  — On February 18, 2026, The President of the Republic of Timor-Leste, J. Ramos-Horta, visited dengue patients at the Guido Valadares National Hospital (HNGV) in Dili and also distributed food parcels and nutritious fruit to the patients.

The objective of this visit was not only to see the children suffering from dengue but also to observe the hospital’s services regarding patient care and nutrition. The Head of State further explained that the doctors’ workload is heavy, with facilities that are sufficient given the hospital’s current conditions. He also expressed hope that the construction of the new hospital will further improve patient care services.

The President of the Republic thanked the health personnel who continue to work professionally and continue to improve hospital management. Regarding the prevention of dengue, President Ramos-Horta suggested that vaccines must be made available for children. To this end, Ramos-Horta has already spoken with the Japanese Embassy to support the provision of vaccines to Timor-Leste in the near future.

Ramos-Horta also called on parents to take preventive measures by cleaning up rubbish and being careful with standing water that can breed mosquitoes. He also requested local authorities to organize the community to clean up waste within their villages and neighborhoods.

Meanwhile, the parcels offered by the President of the Republic to the patients were mostly provided by donors such as the companies B&Y, Gota, and Bee Leste, as well as the budget of the Presidency of the Republic, and were organized by the Social Service and Social Support Unit of the Presidency. Following the activity at HNGV, the team from the Presidency continued to distribute parcels to patients at the Tasi-Tolu quarantine center, accompanied by officials from the Ministry of Health and HNGV.