In a heart-wrenching Facebook post, Yanet Bermúdez, a mother from Manacas in Santo Domingo, Villa Clara, has made a desperate appeal to the Cuban government. She reveals her 10-year-old daughter, who suffers from type 1 diabetes, is facing life-threatening conditions due to a series of government failures: 20 days without water from the local aqueduct, no insulin available at the pharmacy, and a lack of basic medical supplies.
Bermúdez's message was direct, targeting the aqueduct's director, the local delegate, the president, and health officials. "I haven't had water service for 20 days. It's not that it isn't raining; it's that you're not providing it. My daughter needs water to avoid dying from hypoglycemia," she stated.
The Domino Effect of System Failures
The situation is a culmination of multiple systemic breakdowns. The pharmacy's refrigerator in Manacas has been out of service for months, leaving no way to store insulin in an area where temperatures exceed 95 degrees Fahrenheit. "There's no insulin anywhere right now. Even if there was, the heat would destroy it before it reached my home," Bermúdez warned.
Adding to the crisis, there is a complete lack of monitoring supplies. "I don't have biosensors to check her glucose levels. No cotton, no alcohol. I'm left guessing whether my daughter will live or die," she expressed.
The family also lacks a refrigerator to store the milk prescribed for hypoglycemic episodes, and they haven't received the medically recommended chicken, fish, or vegetables. Without transportation to the hospital, treatments are delayed, exacerbating her daughter's condition.
A Widespread Issue Across Provinces
This case is not unique. In June 2026, Lian Alejandro García Fernández, a three-year-old in Matanzas with type 1 diabetes, went over 30 days without receiving the milk from his medical diet, highlighting a recurring issue across provinces. It is estimated that around a thousand children in Cuba suffer from type 1 diabetes and rely on insulin for survival.
In Villa Clara, the water crisis is deeply rooted. In May 2026, the Cuban government admitted to what they termed "dissatisfaction," acknowledging a crisis that left Santa Clara neighborhoods without service for 30 to 90 days due to the Minerva-Ochoíta system's paralysis and historical neglect of infrastructure investment.
Residents in Manacas report simultaneous outages of water, electricity, and mobile signals, adding to the chaos.
Nationwide Health Crisis
On a national level, the PAHO/WHO has described Cuba's health situation as an "unprecedented crisis," with 56% of essential medicines in shortage and 60% of the pharmaceutical list facing restrictions. In July 2025, the Cuban health minister admitted to Parliament the existence of an "unprecedented structural crisis" in the healthcare system.
Bermúdez did not hold back in assigning blame: "This isn't a complaint. It's a warning. If my daughter dies today, it'll be with your names on my lips. You are responsible. The pharmacy without a fridge. The aqueduct without water. The insulin that doesn't arrive. The supplies that aren't delivered."
Her post ended with a question that captures the desperation of countless Cuban families in similar situations: "Cuban government officials, I'm not asking for luxuries. I'm asking for water. For cold storage for insulin. For biosensors. Stop killing my daughter with your indifference. How many more deaths do you need to act?"
Understanding the Cuban Healthcare Crisis
What are the main challenges faced by diabetic children in Cuba?
Diabetic children in Cuba face challenges such as a lack of insulin, no access to necessary medical supplies, and inadequate food and water supplies crucial for their health.
Why is the water crisis in Villa Clara significant?
The water crisis is significant because it affects daily living and health conditions, leaving residents without water for extended periods due to infrastructure neglect and system failures.
How is the national health crisis in Cuba described by international organizations?
The PAHO/WHO describes Cuba's national health crisis as "unprecedented," with severe shortages of essential medicines and restrictions on a significant portion of the pharmaceutical list.