In a candid conversation on the podcast "Escuela de Nada," Cuban comedian Ramiro González shared a poignant story about his parents, both doctors who participated in Cuba's international missions. Upon returning, they both conveyed the same heartbreaking sentiment: the Revolution had stolen their lives.
The episode, released on Sunday on X, is part of a series titled "Cuba's Reality in 2026," recorded last Wednesday and hailed by those who shared it as "an instant classic."
The Painful Truth
González recounted how, at the age of 13, his father was dispatched on a medical mission to Haiti. Upon his return, he didn't hold back: "These people are thieves. Everything they've told us is a lie," he declared.
The comparison was stark and harrowing. In contrast to Cuba, Haiti had food, and those with determination could make progress. "Sure, people there are in dire straits, but those with some sense who want to move forward can do so. Plus, there's food there," his father explained, according to González.
A Shocking Revelation
Years later, Ramiro's mother, also a doctor, was sent on a mission to Botswana in Africa. Initially more sympathetic to the regime's narrative, she didn't fully share her ex-husband's critical view. However, upon her return, she broke down in tears.
"I didn't entirely agree with your father, but these people stole my life," she confessed, weeping over the regime's betrayal.
She added a revelation that Ramiro found particularly jarring. As a child, she would urge him to eat by saying, "children in Africa don't have food." After returning from Botswana, she revealed the cruel irony: "It wasn't true. You were the one without food."
Enduring Indoctrination
González also delved into the indoctrination that the regime enforces from a young age. "When you sit in the classroom, the first thing they do in Cuban schools is 10 minutes of political information, where they talk about the world falling apart while we progress, and it bothers them," the comedian explained.
From primary education, Cuban children recite the motto of the José Martí Pioneer Organization: "Pioneers for communism, we will be like Che."
The Broader Context
The testimony of Ramiro's parents fits into a well-documented pattern: the regime retains most of the salaries of doctors sent abroad, requires them to surrender their passports to supervisors, and forbids them from freely interacting with the local population.
Human rights organizations have labeled this system as modern slavery, estimating that medical missions generated around $11 billion annually for the regime between 2011 and 2015.
The full episode is available on YouTube and has been described by the podcast's page as one of those episodes that become "an instant classic" for depicting the realities of Cuba "that we can't even imagine unless someone who's lived it tells us."
Frequently Asked Questions about Cuban Medical Missions
Why do Cuban doctors participate in international missions?
Cuban doctors are often sent on international missions as part of the government's program to provide medical aid to other countries. While these missions are portrayed as humanitarian efforts, many doctors participate under duress, and the regime retains the majority of their earnings.
What are the conditions like for Cuban doctors on these missions?
Cuban doctors on missions often face restrictive conditions, including having their passports confiscated, limited freedom to interact with locals, and receiving only a fraction of their salaries while the regime takes the rest.
How do these missions affect the doctors' views on the Cuban regime?
Many doctors return from these missions disillusioned with the Cuban regime, realizing the extent of the exploitation and the false narratives they've been told. This often leads to a critical view of the government and its practices.