Mother Battling Leukemia and Her Son Endure Poverty in Las Tunas Amid Government Neglect

A 38-year-old woman suffering from leukemia and her son are living under dire poverty in the community of La Posta, located in the Majibacoa municipality of Las Tunas, without receiving any assistance from the Cuban government. The dire circumstances were brought to light over the weekend through a post on the Facebook group "Revolico lo que necesitas, Las Tunas," where photographs of the woman—showing severe malnutrition with prominent clavicles and ribs—and her dilapidated wooden home stirred hundreds of social media users.

Merisleydis Pérez, who shared the post, highlighted the urgency of the situation: "I appeal to the solidarity that characterizes us, the people of Las Tunas, to contribute whatever we can to help this mother and her child, whether it's food, clothing, hygiene items, or anything that might be useful." The post quickly garnered over 409 reactions, 57 comments, and 84 shares.

Pérez also emphasized the need for pain medication and welcomed any donations, stating, "even if it's just 20 pesos on a card." She assured that everything would be handled transparently for the peace of mind of donors and mentioned her plans to deliver aid personally. Those willing to help can call 58256825 or visit the family in person, located across from the bakery and social club in La Posta Majibacoa, approximately 12 kilometers from the city of Las Tunas, along the Bayamo road past the red dirt road.

Public Outcry Over Government Inaction

The most shocking aspect for many commentators wasn't just the image of the ill woman but the evident institutional neglect. "The government has known about this for years; they've needed help for a long time," wrote one user. Another was more blunt: "The government doesn't care about the people at all. The people are left to fend for themselves... these are the consequences."

This case comes to light during a particularly critical time. Just two days before the post, the regime issued Resolution 150/2026, which removed price caps on basic foods like chicken, oil, powdered milk, pasta, and sausages. Commentators directly linked this measure to the worsening conditions for the most vulnerable: "Now everything will get worse because there are no price caps, and small businesses can charge whatever they want for their products, leaving the people to endure it."

Impact of New Economic Measures

Simultaneously, Prime Minister Manuel Marrero presented a package of 176 measures to the National Assembly that relaxes restrictions on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), removing the cap on 100 workers and lifting price controls. "With these new laws, social and vulnerable cases will be reduced, and there will be no help," warned another commentator.

Majibacoa is one of the most underdeveloped municipalities in Las Tunas, a province that lost 11.5% of its population over eight years, closing 2024 with 475,343 residents. Its municipal seat lacks basic services such as a water system. Across Cuba, 96.91% of the population lacks adequate access to food, according to 2026 data, and cancer patients face treatment disruptions due to medication shortages, a crisis that has worsened since January 2025 when over 64% of the drugs supposed to be supplied by BioCubaFarma were unavailable.

In March 2026, directors of the Ministry of Labor and Social Security admitted there isn't enough budget to support all vulnerable individuals. This pattern is clear: severe illness, extreme poverty, state neglect, and citizen solidarity through social networks as the only lifeline. "How sad, each case is worse than the last... Cuba is heartbreaking," summed up one commentator.