Cuban activist Amelia Calzadilla, currently exiled in Spain, has issued a powerful message on social media, urging the World Health Organization (WHO) and the international community to provide "immediate humanitarian intervention in Cuba" due to the severe health crisis on the island. The situation is marked by a collapsing healthcare system and state neglect.
In a video shared on her Facebook account, Calzadilla highlighted that the current health crisis "has exceeded the capacity of Cuba's healthcare system." She accused Miguel Díaz-Canel's regime of "hiding the extent of the outbreak" and "endangering the lives of millions of citizens."
"I'm not calling for military intervention, but demanding a humanitarian one. Cuba needs doctors, even from international organizations like the WHO, because this issue is no longer just Cuba's—it poses a security risk to other nations," she stated.
A Nation Stricken and a System in Ruin
Calzadilla's statements come amid a surge of mosquito-borne illnesses—dengue, chikungunya, and Oropouche virus—that have plagued the country since summer. The Ministry of Public Health itself has admitted these are "difficult to control."
Recent reports indicate that over a dozen provinces are experiencing active transmission, with hospitals overwhelmed by the rising number of fever cases and patients with severe symptoms, particularly among children and the elderly.
The activist pointed out that many Cubans "no longer seek medical help because they know there are no supplies or care available," and that pharmacies are empty. This forces families to seek treatments on the black market, where prices exceed the average annual salary of a worker.
"People are administering IV fluids at home, spending 25,000 pesos on medicines that should be free. The government makes you sick and then abandons you," she emphasized.
Exposing Labor Abuses and State Coercion
Calzadilla also revealed that the Ministry of Education is threatening sick workers with salary deductions if they present medical certificates.
"They will only receive 60% of their salary, when many earn 2,000 or 3,000 pesos. It’s an abuse. They're punishing people for getting sick due to a problem the state itself caused by not controlling the epidemic," she criticized.
The activist described this measure as "inhumane blackmail" and accused the government of using illness as a tool for social control. She asserted, "They allow people to get sick to keep them weak and at home."
"I continue to say that this illness is a way to subjugate the people. They know the protocols and do not follow them. With the level of discontent present, they prefer people to be sick rather than protesting," she declared.
Appeal to the International Community
Calzadilla called on international organizations—particularly the WHO, the Red Cross, and the Red Crescent—to intervene immediately. She argued that the scale of the outbreak threatens not only Cuba but the entire Caribbean region.
"This is not a local issue. When a country fails to control an epidemic, it endangers everyone. In Haiti, for example, international brigades were sent to curb cholera. Why not do the same now in Cuba?" she questioned.
The activist strongly criticized the Cuban regime for its lack of transparency and refusal to seek external assistance:
"Acknowledging the country's lack of control over the situation would be admitting their failure. But there is no time for political pride: Cuba urgently needs help," she insisted.
A Dictatorship That Abandons Its People
In her message, Calzadilla reiterated her depiction of the regime as a "dictatorship closed off like an oyster," turning the nation into "a place where falling ill is a death sentence."
"We are governed by a dictatorship that constantly endangers the lives of its citizens. Not only through hunger or poverty, but now through illness as well. And the worst part is—they know it," she concluded with indignation.
Her plea adds to the numerous complaints from doctors and citizens within the island about the healthcare collapse, the lack of medicines, the spread of disease vectors, and the absence of institutional response.
While the regime continues to blame the U.S. embargo, voices like Amelia Calzadilla's highlight that the real crisis is internal: a destroyed healthcare system, an incapable government, and an abandoned, ailing populace.
Understanding the Health Crisis in Cuba
What is causing the health crisis in Cuba?
The health crisis in Cuba is primarily due to a surge in mosquito-borne diseases like dengue, chikungunya, and Oropouche virus, combined with a collapsing healthcare infrastructure and lack of state intervention.
How are Cuban citizens coping with the lack of medical supplies?
Many Cubans are avoiding medical facilities and resorting to self-treatment at home or purchasing medications from the black market, where prices are exorbitant.
What has the Cuban government’s response been to the crisis?
The Cuban government has been criticized for downplaying the severity of the outbreak, failing to provide adequate healthcare support, and refusing external aid, instead blaming the U.S. embargo for the situation.