Erisbel Leyva Muñoz, a 35-year-old resident of the José Ávila Serrano neighborhood—also known as La Cuchilla—in Velasco, Gibara municipality, Holguín, is grappling with three severe illnesses without the basic resources needed for treatment. A Facebook post by Felipe González sparked a wave of solidarity on social media.
At just 24 days old, Erisbel was diagnosed with meningoencephalitis. He later developed hemophilia A—a hereditary disorder that impairs normal blood clotting—and began showing signs of schizophrenia at the age of 17.
Currently, Erisbel has lost muscle mass in his legs and struggles to meet his basic needs. He resides in a barred room with his parents.
The Struggle for Basic Necessities
The family's financial situation is dire. They rely on the ration book, which barely provides for the most basic food needs, leaving no room to afford the special diet required for hemophilia or the medications needed for schizophrenia.
A close relative commented on the situation, stating, "His father’s pension cannot cover Erisbel’s nutritional needs. Besides his nerve disorder, he has hemophilia, requiring a specialized diet they cannot afford due to their circumstances. Sometimes, they lack even basic medications, and if he gets a toothache, he must be hospitalized because his blood doesn’t clot."
Community and Institutional Neglect
Neighbors confirm the accuracy of González’s account, with one neighbor testifying, "It’s exactly as Mr. Felipe describes. I’ve watched him grow up; he was a very intelligent child." Another visitor noted the family was also affected by cyclone-induced flooding and is still waiting for a social worker's visit.
The institutional neglect surrounding Erisbel’s case is unsurprising to those familiar with Cuba's mental health crisis. A mother of a child with schizophrenia echoed the sentiment of desperation, saying, "It tears your heart to see the neglect faced by those with mental health issues in this country. There’s a severe lack of medications, therapies, vaccines—everything. It’s incredibly difficult."
A Call for Support
In response to González’s post, many users inquired about how to send help, what medications Erisbel needs, and urged local influencers to highlight his story.
"Oh, Cuba, how you hurt!" one commenter lamented. "Every day, Facebook reveals the forgotten ones," another added, noting the family’s years-long struggle with their son’s illness amid dire economic conditions. Those wishing to assist can contact Felipe González via private message on his Facebook profile.
This abandonment is reflected in stark figures. As of April 2026, 461 out of 651 essential medications were unavailable in Cuban state pharmacies, with psychotropic drugs—critical for treating schizophrenia—only meeting 40% of national demand, according to reports on Cuba's healthcare crisis.
Approximately five million chronic patients were experiencing interruptions in their treatments.
Erisbel’s case is not the first to gain attention from this locality. Earlier in September, a young woman with schizophrenia from Velasco received widespread support and donations after her story circulated on social media.
Understanding Cuba's Healthcare Crisis
What illnesses does Erisbel Leyva Muñoz suffer from?
Erisbel Leyva Muñoz suffers from meningoencephalitis, hemophilia A, and schizophrenia.
How are Erisbel's medical needs impacting his family?
The family struggles to afford the specialized diet and medications required for Erisbel's conditions due to their limited financial resources.
What is the state of healthcare in Cuba?
As of April 2026, 461 out of 651 essential medications were lacking in Cuban state pharmacies, and psychotropic drugs were meeting only 40% of the national demand.