Cuban model Rachel Vallori, who once competed in Miss Universe Cuba 2024, has taken to social media to expose the harrowing conditions her family is enduring in Cuba. She recounted a distressing experience at a hospital where, according to her, there are no hip prostheses available anywhere in the country.
In a series of Instagram stories, Vallori shared the anxiety her family faced after her 82-year-old great-aunt suffered a hip fracture following a fall. Upon reaching the hospital, doctors informed them that surgery was not possible due to the lack of prostheses in any Cuban medical facility.
"They told her to go home and, if possible, to find a prosthesis through family connections, as there are none available throughout Cuba," the visibly upset model explained.
Rachel detailed her attempts to secure a prosthesis from abroad, only to learn that precise and customized measurements are required, complicating shipping and use. However, the most shocking revelation came from the doctors themselves:
"I was told there are people stealing prostheses from the deceased, from the cremated, to sell them on revolico.com. Imagine the insanity. Doctors can't operate, and there are people selling prostheses taken from corpses," Vallori revealed.
The model described the ordeal as "a nightmare," asserting that what is happening within Cuba's healthcare system resembles "a planned genocide."
She recounted that her relative was ultimately not operated on and is now resting, as the family strives to support her with limited resources.
"Thank God she's stable, but there's no point operating if there's no prosthesis. She's resting, and we hope she'll be able to walk with aid, even if it's with a cane," she explained.
Furthermore, Vallori highlighted that Cuba is grappling with a new wave of dengue and other mosquito-borne diseases amidst a shortage of medications and unsanitary conditions.
"I can't comprehend what's happening. It's total chaos. Mosquitoes, diseases, hospitals lacking supplies, no medicines... this defies explanation," she expressed.
Rachel Vallori's testimony has sparked considerable attention among Cubans both on the island and abroad, recognizing her courageous denunciation of the collapse of the public health system, once touted by the regime as one of its greatest achievements.
FAQs on Cuba's Healthcare Crisis
What prompted Rachel Vallori to speak out?
Rachel Vallori spoke out after her great-aunt experienced a hip fracture and discovered the lack of available prostheses in Cuba, highlighting the severe deficiencies in the healthcare system.
What did Vallori discover about obtaining prostheses in Cuba?
Vallori learned that prostheses must be precisely measured and customized, which complicates obtaining them from abroad. Additionally, she uncovered that some people are selling prostheses stolen from the deceased.
How has Vallori's testimony impacted the Cuban community?
Her testimony has resonated deeply with Cubans at home and abroad, who see her words as a bold critique of the failing healthcare system, previously promoted as a significant achievement by the regime.