Child Needing Medical Care Moved to Neurological Hospital Under Heavy State Security

Eliannis Ramírez, the mother of Damir, a child suffering from a serious illness requiring a special document from the Ministry of Public Health (MINSAP) for treatment abroad, has reported their transfer to the Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery in Havana. They were escorted by State Security during the move. "We're being taken to the Neurological Institute... Excessive State Security for a mere transfer. We're not criminals, MINSAP, and for all of Cuba to know, we're heading to the International Medical Attention ward," the mother explained.

Ramírez concluded with determination, "We keep going because where there's a will, there's a way, and hope remains strong..."

Recently, the Juan Manuel Márquez Pediatric Teaching Hospital in Havana issued a statement about the case of Geobel Damir Ortiz Ramírez. They confirmed that on Wednesday, February 12, they provided the mother with the medical document she requested to seek treatment outside the country. The hospital clarified that they gave her "an updated summary of the medical history, containing all elements that verify the child's illness and the treatments received at Cuban healthcare centers," as she had previously asked.

On the surface, the hospital seemed to be responding to growing social pressure after the mother's complaint that the lack of necessary documentation had led to the U.S. Embassy in Havana denying Geobel's visa last week.

The hospital detailed the comprehensive care received by the 10-year-old, originally from Bayamo, Granma, but currently residing in the San Miguel del Padrón municipality in Havana.

In recent updates, the child's mother clarified on social media that what was given to her was merely a "summary of medical history" and not the letter required by the U.S. Embassy. The embassy demands a statement from the Ministry of Public Health admitting that the country lacks the resources to treat the child's condition.

Activist Diasniurka Salcedo Verdecia emphasized that the provided document does not meet the U.S. Embassy's requirements. She explained that the document should not exceed two pages and must include a conclusion stating that local conditions are insufficient for the child's care. Instead, they received an 11-page medical summary concluding that "he is authorized to travel."

Salcedo Verdecia pointed out that these are not arbitrary demands, but rather the embassy's requirements. She expressed confusion over why this situation was mishandled when similar cases for other children seeking humanitarian visas were processed correctly. Meanwhile, the child's health condition continues to deteriorate.

The GoFundMe campaign supporting Damir has already raised $26,185. The recent transfer to the International Medical Attention Ward at the Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery in Havana signals that the regime is prepared to exhaust all "resources"—even those intended for foreign patients—to address this case.