Rachel Núñez Álvarez, a 10-year-old girl from Las Tunas, is currently under medical care at the William Soler Pediatric University Hospital in Havana due to severe liver failure. Her family, facing dire financial straits, is reaching out for support from local aid groups and the Cuban diaspora abroad.
Activist Yanalli González took to Facebook to issue an urgent plea after speaking with the child's mother. "I just spoke with her mom, who informed me that tests are ongoing, and a crucial liver damage assessment is scheduled for Tuesday," González posted.
According to González, Rachel's mother is unable to stay with her due to the hospital's stringent policies. "She's staying far away in Santiago de las Vegas at a church that offered her shelter; meanwhile, the girl remains at the William Soler Hospital with her grandmother," the activist detailed.
González made a direct appeal: "I am calling on aid groups in Havana," and shared the family's contact numbers for those willing to help: the girl's aunt can be reached at +53 5 4096366, and her mother is available via WhatsApp at 56096626.
Rachel's situation is one of several recent distressing cases affecting Cuba. On May 30, the mother of another 10-year-old girl with liver failure made a desperate plea from the pediatric hospital in Las Tunas, where her daughter had been hospitalized for 23 days, including five days in intensive care.
The hospital lacked the essential reagent for conducting prothrombin time and INR tests, critical for assessing liver coagulation function.
The most heartbreaking outcome of this healthcare crisis was the death of 10-month-old Raibel David Gómez Santana from Sancti Spíritus on June 5, who failed to receive the liver transplant he urgently needed.
His father, Raudelvis Gómez Carabeo, encapsulated the grim reality of Cuba's health system with a simple phrase: "It can't be done"—referring to organ transplants in Cuba.
The William Soler Hospital has a Hepatology, Hepatobiliary Surgery, and Liver Transplant Unit and serves as the national center for these pediatric procedures.
Nonetheless, since 2023, numerous families report the practical unavailability of transplants, forcing parents to seek solutions abroad through humanitarian visas and fundraising campaigns.
Cuban studies highlight a 36.8% mortality rate in acute pediatric liver failure cases, with outcomes worsening when prothrombin time exceeds 20 seconds, underscoring the need for timely diagnosis and intervention.
The most notable successful case is that of Amanda Lemus Ortiz, a Cuban child with biliary atresia, who underwent a successful transplant at La Paz University Hospital in Madrid in March 2024, after securing a humanitarian visa and massive solidarity campaign. Rachel's case awaits test results to determine the extent of her liver damage and the next steps.
FAQs on Pediatric Liver Failure in Cuba
What is the current situation of liver transplants in Cuba for children?
Despite having a dedicated unit for pediatric liver transplants at the William Soler Hospital, many families report that these procedures are not effectively available, causing them to seek alternatives abroad.
How can people help families like Rachel's?
Individuals can assist by contributing to fundraising efforts, providing moral support, and sharing the family's contact information to broaden the reach of their plea for help.
What are the main challenges faced by families dealing with pediatric liver failure in Cuba?
Families often encounter financial difficulties, lack of essential medical supplies, and the need to travel long distances for specialized care, which compounds the emotional and logistical challenges of managing a child's serious health condition.