The plight of Dayma, a young Cuban girl battling illness and familial neglect, has struck a chord on social media. The story was brought to light by community activist Yankiel Fernández, who runs the Aliento de Vida project aiding vulnerable individuals in Havana. In a heartfelt Facebook post, Fernández shared that Dayma is solely cared for by her grandmother, as her mother has rejected her and allegedly exploits her to beg on the streets.
According to Fernández, the mother has cruelly referred to Dayma as a "monster" and a "freak," denying her the basic love and care she desperately needs. "There are days like today when I feel like giving up, leaving everything behind. But I can't abandon my mission here in Cuba, especially for the sake of the many elderly and over 43 children and young people with cerebral palsy I support. Dayma's case won't let me walk away," he expressed.
Fernández has called for assistance in securing a humanitarian visa for Dayma so that she might receive medical treatment outside of Cuba. "Dayma needs a humanitarian visa. I don't know the ins and outs of it, but I need help to get her out and treated somewhere she can be saved, rather than being another victim of negligence or incompetence," he pleaded.
Clearly distraught, Fernández lamented the visible deterioration of the young girl. A commenter noted that Dayma resides in the impoverished neighborhood of Jesús María in Old Havana, revealing the dire conditions she faces.
The Broader Struggle for Medical Aid in Cuba
Dayma's situation is not unique. Increasingly, Cuban families are voicing their struggles to secure treatment for serious illnesses due to the scarcity of resources, equipment, and medicines in local hospitals.
A recent example is Brianna Charlette Blanco, a 10-year-old girl suffering from a thyroglossal duct cyst at the base of her tongue. After three surgeries in Cuba, doctors admitted they lacked the means to resolve her condition and advised seeking help abroad. Her mother, Yanarys Rodríguez, has launched a fundraising campaign to afford surgery in Miami, having been accepted by a U.S. hospital but still needing over $32,000 and facing the challenge of obtaining a humanitarian visa.
Another heart-wrenching case is that of three-year-old Meral Vaillan Figueredo, diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Her mother, Niuvis Figueredo, has repeatedly pleaded for a humanitarian visa so her daughter can access a bone marrow transplant outside Cuba, as available treatments have failed. Despite mobilization from activists and public figures like singer Dayamí La Musa, a life-saving journey remains unfulfilled.
Crisis in the Cuban Health System
These accounts underscore a harsh truth: the so-called "powerful Cuban healthcare system," long touted by the regime, is now failing to provide the specialized medical care that many children desperately need. A lack of medicines, outdated equipment, hospital shortages, and the exodus of medical professionals have turned treatable conditions into death sentences.
In the face of state inefficiency, families are compelled to seek international solidarity and humanitarian visas to save their children. Dayma's ordeal highlights another facet of the crisis: child abandonment in a context where government institutions, rather than offering effective support, leave children like her reliant on luck or charity.
The Outcry from Civil Society
Dayma's story, marked by maternal rejection, illness, and the threat to her life, joins a long queue of unmet medical urgencies in Cuba. Activists and citizens stress that her only hope is to leave the country as soon as possible.
Yankiel Fernández's plea and the public outcry represent a desperate cry against a regime that continues to prioritize propaganda over the real health needs of its people. "Everyone counts, no one is discarded," the activist reminded. But in practice, many like Dayma are indeed discarded in Cuba. With each day passing without an official response, the window to save their lives narrows.
Understanding the Cuban Health Crisis
What is the current state of the Cuban healthcare system?
The Cuban healthcare system is struggling with a lack of medicines, outdated equipment, and a shortage of medical professionals, leading to inadequate care for serious illnesses.
Why is Dayma's case significant?
Dayma's case highlights the dual issues of medical neglect and child abandonment in Cuba, showcasing the failure of government institutions to provide necessary support and care.
How are Cuban families coping with medical shortages?
Many families are turning to international solidarity campaigns and seeking humanitarian visas to access medical treatments abroad due to the deficiencies of the local healthcare system.