In a letter to which Lusa had access and addressed "to whom it may concern", doctors Jorge and Teresa Rius, from the Teknon Medical Center, in Barcelona, state that despite their health problems, aggravated by covid-19, which forced the prolonged hospital stay, José Eduardo dos Santos' situation is evolving "slowly and progressively, in a satisfactory manner".
The document comes a day after the presidency released a note from the former head of state, stating that only his personal doctor is able to talk about his health, after criticism from one of his daughters, Welwitschia "Tchizé" dos Santos. , about the treatment given to the father.
The document states that the medical center in Barcelona, the city where José Eduardo dos Santos has lived since 2019, has been responsible since 2006 for the annual health checks of the former head of state, who presided over the destinies of Angola for 38 years and was replaced, in 2017, by João Lourenço.
They also indicate that over the last 16 years they had the opportunity to meet their personal physician, João Afonso, who accompanied the 'check-ups' and who has requested consultations according to medical needs and with the approval of the former President.
"Throughout our relationship, we have proven the irreproachable value, competence, preparation and dedication of Dr. Afonso to His Excellency", they write in the letter, adding that it is "a good decision to have him as a personal physician".
Asked about the letter from Spanish doctors, Tchizé do Santos told Lusa that she wants them to "help recover" her father, considering that "they are the best", adding that she has not spoken to them about the document.
She also said that her objective in exposing the situation was to ensure that the people around her father "do their job" and ensured that the family "are watching".
"I only act in defense of myself and mine. So treat mine well, don't boycott the health of mine, the objective is to make my father good, because they are the ones who make him bad, so fix what you did", he stressed. .
"How is it possible for a person to spend five months in Angola and their health deteriorate without letting the family know", she asked, regarding the recent visit of José Eduardo dos Santos to Angola.
In a note released on Tuesday by the Presidency and signed by the former president, José Eduardo dos Santos alleges that João Afonso is his personal doctor, who has been following him for 16 years, in whom he has "the utmost confidence", and is "the only entity authorized to speak" about his health status.
This position comes after Tchizé dos Santos denounced "abuses" and "conditioning of freedom" in relation to his father, admitting that the family is dealing with "a police case", which could motivate a complaint to the Spanish authorities.
"We, the children of José Eduardo dos Santos (...) those who, in fact, want to ensure the safety of our father, the physical and legal integrity of our father, are feeling powerless and we will only have an alternative is to call the Spanish authorities to intervene because this is a police case. The other alternative is to make all Angolans aware of what is happening", he said, in statements sent to Lusa.
Tchizé dos Santos had previously questioned the Angolan doctor's intervention, as he would have told Spanish doctors that they were assisting the former president "to cancel appointments and not to show up".
In the note released by the Presidency, José Eduardo dos Santos says that João Afonso "will continue to be the coordinating doctor of the multidisciplinary team" that guarantees his "medical assistance in Barcelona".
