Maria do Céu Sarmento

Maria do Céu Sarmento Pina da Costa (born 14 April 1968 in Dili, Portuguese Timor) is an East Timorese doctor, academic and politician. From 2015 to 2017, she was Minister of Health. Sarmento is a member of the National Congress for Timorese Reconstruction (Congresso Nacional da Reconstrução Timorense) (CNRT).

Early life and education From 1976 to 1982, Sarmento attended primary school, then junior high school for two years, and from 1986 to 1988 secondary school. Sarmento studied from 1989 at the Faculty of Medicine of Udayana University in Bali, Indonesia, and graduated in 1996.

Medical career From 1996 to 2001, Sarmento worked as an assistant physician in the Medical Department of the National Hospital in Dili, After the government reshuffle of 2015, she was appointed Minister of Health in the VI Constitutional Government of East Timor, being sworn in on 16 February. In 2017, Rui Maria de Araújo replaced Sarmento as Minister of Health in the new government.

Personal life Sarmento is married. She is fluent in Tetum, Malay, Portuguese and Spanish. She also speaks English.

Awards 2002 – Woman of the year in the field of health of Queen Entertainment Timor, Dili July 2003 to June 2004 – Best doctor of National Hospital Guido Valadares