Cuban activist Idelisa Diasniurka Salcedo Verdecia took to Facebook on Thursday to urgently seek basic medical supplies for the Celia Sánchez Manduley Hospital in Manzanillo. Her cousin, Addiel Verdecia, is in critical condition following a severe accident, and the hospital is lacking essential materials.
Salcedo Verdecia revealed on social media that the hospital’s critical care unit is devoid of the most fundamental supplies needed for patient care.
"SOS Manzanillo hospital, I urgently need medical supplies for my cousin who had an accident, and there's nothing available, SOS SOS," she posted, using the hashtag #ManzanilloSOS.
The situation she depicts is dire, even by the already poor standards of the Cuban healthcare system.
"There's not even water in the room," Salcedo Verdecia warned, offering to pay out of pocket for what the hospital cannot provide: "Please, whoever has medical supplies, I will buy them immediately for the Celia Hospital in Manzanillo. Gloves, swabs, everything is urgently needed."
Since her exile to the United States in January 2024, prompted by pressure from the Cuban regime, Salcedo Verdecia has continued to raise awareness about conditions in Cuba and organize humanitarian aid through her activism.
"I have a cousin right now in critical condition from an accident, and there's no way to clean him in the room," she bluntly stated in one of her messages, highlighting the grim reality of a healthcare system that the Cuban government still touts as exemplary.
Her call for help underscores a widespread practice in Cuba: families turning to social media to obtain what hospitals lack, from gloves and gauze to antibiotics and suturing materials.
Furthermore, the Celia Sánchez Manduley Hospital has faced numerous complaints of institutional breakdown over the years.
In 2024, a critically ill patient was left unattended, with flies swarming over him at this very facility.
A year later, in August, the hemodialysis service was repeatedly disrupted due to a shortage of sodium bicarbonate, dialyzers, and water, with the same issues halting treatments again in April 2026.
Even Cuba's Public Health Minister, José Ángel Portal Miranda, admitted in February that the system was "on the verge of collapse," affecting millions of individuals with chronic illnesses.
Understanding the Healthcare Crisis in Cuba
What challenges is the Cuban healthcare system facing?
The Cuban healthcare system is grappling with severe shortages of basic medical supplies, affecting patient care and treatment. Institutional breakdowns and lack of resources have led to critical conditions going untreated.
How are Cuban families coping with hospital shortages?
Many Cuban families turn to social media to seek essential medical supplies and assistance. They rely on personal networks and humanitarian aid to procure items that hospitals cannot supply.
What has been the government's response to the healthcare crisis?
Despite acknowledging the system's dire state, the Cuban government continues to present its healthcare model as a success internationally, while admitting to the public that the system is nearing collapse.