The situation involving a father from Santiago de Cuba, who initially reported a lack of medications at the "La Colonia" South Children's Hospital, has taken a perplexing turn, raising more questions than answers.
Just two days after publicly highlighting the shortage of supplies needed to treat his sick daughter, Juan Matute Martínez completely reversed his stance. In a message to independent journalist Yosmany Mayeta, he claimed that the video initially circulated was generated by "artificial intelligence."
This revelation came from Mayeta himself, who was responsible for originally sharing the complaint.
"Only a couple of days ago, Juan Matute Martínez, a father from Santiago, publicly criticized the lack of essential medications at the South Children's Hospital ‘La Colonia Española’ for his ailing daughter," Mayeta recounted.
In the initial footage, directly sent from the father's profile, he appeared visibly distressed inside the hospital, where his daughter was suffering from fever, headaches, and nausea.
"Look here, I had to go out and buy dipyrone on the street so they could lower my child’s fever at the hospital," he stated at the time.
He also pointed out the absence of diagnostic tools needed to determine the cause of the children's fevers and even issued a warning that holds particular significance now: "If they want, they can come to my house with gasoline and everything to question me about why I made this video."
Yet, just 48 hours later, the same father sent a completely different message. According to Mayeta, he asserted that the released video was "artificial intelligence," expressed "trust in the revolution," in "the party and the government," and claimed that "the Cuban healthcare system is the best in the world."
Mayeta posed the central question: "How does a father, anguished about his daughter's health, go from denouncing a medication shortage to declaring everything was artificial intelligence in just 48 hours?"
He emphasized: "The video exists. It was sent from his own profile. It showed his face. It showed the hospital. It showed his desperation. And now there’s a message full of political slogans."
The journalist was unequivocal: "Our page does not fabricate videos with artificial intelligence. We publish what citizens send us. And when someone changes their story due to regime pressures and threats, we report that too."
The concluding statement captures the severity of the situation: "Beyond slogans, what matters is a sick child... and a father who first spoke with pain and later wrote with fear."
This shift in narrative occurs in a context where publicly criticizing systemic deficiencies can lead to repercussions.
In Cuba, challenging state management, even concerning a child’s health, carries inherent risks. When a father warns in his own video that authorities might come after him for speaking out, and shortly thereafter retracts with praise for the same system he criticized, doubts are inevitable.
The backdrop is a severe healthcare crisis. In recent years, reports have multiplied about hospitals lacking basic medications, clinical analysis reagents, and suffering from deteriorating facilities.
The shortage of foreign currency to import supplies, combined with structural management and supply issues, has left healthcare centers without essential resources. In a pediatric hospital, the lack of antipyretics and diagnostic tools directly compromises care for children with potentially severe conditions.
While official discourse insists on the system's strengths, testimonies like Juan Matute’s—before his retraction—reveal a reality marred by serious shortages. A father having to purchase a vial on the street to reduce his hospitalized child's fever starkly illustrates the decline.
The change in narrative does not erase the initial images or words. Instead, it adds another layer to the problem: fear. In an environment where making complaints can have consequences, silence—or forced retractions—becomes part of the same ordeal faced by patients and their families.
Implications of Healthcare Shortages in Cuba
What are the potential repercussions for speaking out about healthcare shortages in Cuba?
In Cuba, publicly criticizing the government or its systems can lead to pressures, threats, or even legal consequences, making many reluctant to voice their grievances.
Why are Cuban hospitals facing medication shortages?
Cuban hospitals are struggling with medication shortages due to a lack of foreign currency for imports, structural management issues, and supply chain disruptions.
How does the healthcare crisis affect Cuban families?
The healthcare crisis forces families to seek essential medications and supplies independently, often purchasing them at high prices outside the hospital system, which can be particularly burdensome for those with limited resources.