The University of Holguín (UHo) announced on Thursday the passing of Yarima Pupo Ochoa, a professor from the Faculty of Economic Sciences and the head of the Economics Department. Her death has deeply affected the university community in Holguín.
The announcement was made on UHo’s official Facebook page, where they released a statement that did not specify the cause or exact date of Pupo Ochoa's death. However, comments from people close to her suggested that she had been battling cancer.
"Our university community mourns the loss of Yarima Pupo Ochoa, a professor from the Faculty of Economic Sciences," the university stated, highlighting that she was always known for her responsibility and discipline.
Academic Achievements and Contributions
Pupo Ochoa graduated with a degree in Economics from the University of Holguín and embarked on her teaching career in the Economics Department in 2008. She pursued a Master's in Health Economics and between 2018 and 2023, she spent time in Russia to complete her doctoral studies on a scholarship. Upon returning, she took the role of head of the Economics Department, a position she held until her untimely death.
Her academic contributions were significant, with publications in international journals. In 2021, she authored an article titled "Cuban Public Health Management in Light of the Pandemic" in the Iberoamérica Journal, and she also examined the Cuban national health system in Russia's RUDN University journal. She participated in scientific conventions such as Cuba Salud 2012 and Cubambiente 2023.
Community's Reaction and Recent University Challenges
In the official announcement's comments, countless colleagues, former students, and acquaintances expressed their sorrow and disbelief at the loss, describing Pupo Ochoa as a dedicated and approachable professional. Her death leaves a significant void in the department she led.
"Our deepest condolences to her family and friends," concluded the UHo statement. The institution has faced a series of painful losses in its academic community in recent years. In July 2023, the university's rector, Miriam Rodríguez Campos, passed away at 60; a year later, in August 2024, Professor Gilberto Laffita was tragically murdered during an attempted robbery in his home in the Peralta neighborhood.
Pupo Ochoa's death is yet another sorrowful event in a string of recent tragedies within the national university system. In November 2025, the University of Oriente in Santiago de Cuba reported at least eight deaths among professors, students, and staff within just 40 days, amidst an uncontrolled arbovirus outbreak.
That same month, Dr. Pedro Álvarez Cruz, a professor from the Faculty of Geography at the University of Havana (UH), also passed away.
Beyond the grief over these losses, these recent deaths have heightened concerns within the country's university sector, which is currently experiencing a period marked by infrastructure decay, resource shortages, and a national energy crisis. These challenges have forced higher education institutions to implement emergency measures to sustain their operations.
Key Questions About Recent University Deaths in Cuba
What was Yarima Pupo Ochoa's role at the University of Holguín?
Yarima Pupo Ochoa was a professor in the Faculty of Economic Sciences and the head of the Economics Department at the University of Holguín.
What contributions did Yarima Pupo Ochoa make to academia?
She published articles in international journals, including a piece on Cuban public health management in the Iberoamérica Journal and an analysis of the Cuban health system in the RUDN University journal. She also participated in scientific conventions.
What challenges are Cuban universities currently facing?
Cuban universities are dealing with infrastructure deterioration, resource shortages, and a national energy crisis, which have necessitated emergency measures to maintain operations.