The official report on the helicopter transport of a baby from the Isle of Youth to Havana has sparked a storm of criticism on social media. Thousands of Cubans have expressed their disapproval, accusing the regime of using a medical emergency as a political propaganda tool with a manipulative and triumphalist tone.
Under hashtags like #CubaForLife and #CubaForHealth, state media shared images of the young patient inside a Revolutionary Armed Forces helicopter, accompanied by medical personnel.
The narrative praised "the resilience of the Cuban people" while blaming Donald Trump's embargo for material shortages, attempting to portray the evacuation as a symbol of resistance and a direct consequence of the current U.S. administration's policies.
However, the public reaction was swift and predominantly negative. What was intended to be a prideful gesture turned into a platform for collective indignation. Thousands criticized the political use of a child's life, the decay of hospitals, and the hypocrisy of the government's message.
“It's not a feat, it's their duty” among the most echoed sentiments was the notion that "saving a life shouldn't be propaganda, but rather a state's responsibility."
One user encapsulated the prevailing sentiment: "There's no need to highlight that; it's the government's obligation to protect its citizens, especially children. In any other country, you'd be airlifted if necessary. Stop with the garbage propaganda."
Other comments stressed that the case was carefully chosen to counteract the negative image of Cuba's healthcare system. "This is the case they chose to showcase on social media to the world. Just one. How many children's lives are lost daily due to lack of medicine or power in hospitals?" protested an infuriated user.
Irony was also a common theme. "What a great feat! They save one life and let thousands die. Where's the achievement?" questioned a skeptical internet user.
Another compared the Cuban military helicopter to emergency equipment in other countries: "It looks like a Russian meat can with rotors. In any civilized country, there are ambulance helicopters equipped for operations. In Cuba, we're still in the Cretaceous period."
Outrage and Pain: “Exploiting Suffering to Justify Misery”
Beyond the sarcasm, many comments reflected anger and exhaustion. "Don't use those parents' pain to justify the system's misery," wrote a young Cuban woman.
"That child will be used by the dictatorship as long as it benefits them, then forgotten like so many others. There's nothing heroic about doing what any government should always do," added another.
A third person pointed out the hypocrisy of the propaganda: "They publicize a rescue to cover thousands of deaths. They don't mention that hospitals use plastic bottles as catheters and fishing line for sutures. They don't talk about the dumps, mosquitoes, or malnutrition."
From outside the island, many Cubans highlighted the contrast between the official narrative and daily life. "Stop blaming outsiders. The blockade is internal. Hospitals are falling apart while leaders live in luxury," a Cuban woman denounced.
In a similar tone, another commented: "What hypocrisy. They exploit a baby's life to clean up their image. I hope Trump follows through and deals with Cuba so no more children die from hunger and poverty."
“From Medical Power to Media Spectacle”
Dozens of users recalled recent cases of children who died due to lack of care or medical transport. "Two days ago, a newborn died in Santa Clara because there was no ambulance," wrote one user. "And now they make a circus out of a helicopter," she added.
Others pointed out the contrast with the regime's historical rhetoric: "In 67 years of revolution, they haven't been able to have a fully equipped hospital on the Isle of Youth. That demonstrates the failure of their medical prowess."
"Saving a life is the right thing to do. The indignation lies in the regime's hypocrisy: they turn a medical evacuation into propaganda while thousands die silently from lack of supplies, doctors, or electricity. If love for humanity were genuine, a helicopter wouldn't be news: it would be routine," stated the most shared comment on the post.
The avalanche of criticism highlighted an ever-deepening divide between the official narrative and the public's perception.
The heroic tale from state media clashes with a reality most Cubans experience firsthand: resource-starved hospitals, power outages halting therapies, a lack of essential medicines, and medical staff worn out by years of shortages.
Attempting to turn a medical emergency into a demonstration of socialism's moral strength not only proved ineffective but backfired, exposing the system's deterioration and the complete loss of trust in the communist regime.
As one internet user put it, "if an old helicopter is a source of national pride, it's because there's nothing left to be proud of."
Public Reaction to Official Cuban Propaganda
Why are Cubans upset about the helicopter rescue of the baby?
Cubans are upset because they feel the government used the medical emergency as propaganda, turning a necessary medical action into a political statement while ignoring the broader issues in the healthcare system.
What criticisms were made about the state of Cuban hospitals?
Critics highlighted the lack of resources in hospitals, power outages that stop treatments, and the scarcity of essential medicines, which they say contradicts the government's portrayal of the healthcare system.