She was considered a “miracle baby” after being born in a tree her mother climbed to escape floods, but died in Mozambique after battling the illness for almost 26 years, her sister told the BBC.
The sight of a newborn baby and mother being pulled to safety by helicopter from a flooded landscape has become one of the defining images of the worst floods in Mozambique’s history in 2000.
President Daniel Chapo recalled Rosita’s life and described her as a symbol for the country’s girls.
In February 2000, the banks of the Limpopo River in southern Mozambique overflowed, killing hundreds and forcing hundreds of thousands from their homes.
Rosita’s mother, Carolina Cecilia Chirindza, was one of those caught up in the crisis.
“The water started to rise around 4pm on Sunday,” the Red Cross quoted her as saying in late 2000.
“The water reached our house and grew stronger, so we, like everyone else in the village, headed towards the trees.
“I was trying to climb up with my two young children on my back. It was very difficult.
“There were 15 of us together, and we were there for four days. We prayed and prayed.
“We had nothing to eat, the children cried and cried, but we could do nothing for them.”
In the early hours of Wednesday morning, Carolina went into labor and shortly after, she and her newborn were spotted by a South African military helicopter assisting in the rescue operation.
The two men became symbols of the disaster’s aftermath, visiting the United States in late 2000 to address Congress and help raise awareness of what happened.
Breaking the news of Rosita’s death at the age of 25 on Monday, her sister Celia Salvador told the BBC: “She passed away after a long illness. It’s very sad. She died of an illness. I can’t explain what the illness was.”
Other family sources said Rosita had been battling the blood disease anemia for many years. Mr. A’s condition worsened and he was hospitalized for over two weeks, but he eventually died on Monday morning.
“Oh my God. This is very bad news. My condolences to the families,” the president told the BBC.
“She was a symbol of Mozambican girls. That is why I offer my condolences to all Mozambicans, especially to Mozambican girls.”
Rosita grew up with her family and graduated from high school in the same rural area called Chibuto where she was born. She herself gave birth to a daughter five years ago.
Political analyst Charles Mangwiro described her death as “a wake-up call for the government to improve service delivery across the country’s entire health system.”
“Healthcare professionals cannot expect to survive if they go without pay for months and complain every day about lack of essentials such as protective substances and antibiotics.”
Despite hiring more health workers in recent years, analysts continue to describe a health system that is overstretched and lacks basic medications and equipment.
Chibuto Mayor Henriques Machava told media that talks were ongoing with the family to formalize funeral arrangements, which he said would be handled by the city.
