Mother in Cuba Claims Power Generator Endangers Her Daughter with Severe Lung Disease

A mother from Rancho Veloz, located in the Corralillo municipality of Villa Clara, has publicly voiced her concerns about an electrical generator stationed next to her home. She claims it poses a threat to her 10-year-old daughter, who suffers from cystic fibrosis, due to the smoke, exhaust fumes, and persistent noise it generates. This situation, she insists, exacerbates her daughter's health condition and prevents her from getting the rest she needs.

The complaint was shared on Facebook by Isnelys Balbin in the group "Gente de Corralillo," where she mentioned that her requests to relocate the generator have been ignored.

"I am reporting a crime, a crime that extends beyond the psychological warfare of survival, the desire to live despite all the hardships," she posted.

According to Balbin, the generator operates from eight in the morning and, as several commenters noted, continues running overnight. The device is situated next to the room of the young girl, who battles cystic fibrosis, a genetic disorder primarily affecting the lungs and making breathing difficult.

The mother states that she has brought this issue to the attention of local authorities and the responsible management, but has yet to receive any response.

"I see it as a lack of respect. I've voiced my concerns, and this is a violation of the right to live, the rights of children; it's a slow torture," she expressed.

Without any solutions, she warned that she would persist in her advocacy.

"I will take my complaint all the way to the United Nations if necessary," she declared.

"It's an abuse," neighbors acknowledge. Among the comments, one user clarified that the generator does not belong to the Rancho Veloz bank, but to an individual who lent it out to ensure pension payments during prolonged power outages.

"But it's still a huge abuse," the user noted.

The post garnered over 3,400 reactions and sparked dozens of supportive comments for the family.

Some users advised approaching the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Environment (CITMA) or the Municipal Directorate of Hygiene and Epidemiology, arguing that such institutions have intervened in similar situations.

"My grandmother faced the same issue with the bank, and the only way it was resolved was through CITMA. Other entities just washed their hands of it," one commenter shared.

Additional Risks for Respiratory Conditions

Cystic fibrosis is a chronic illness that severely affects lung function. Experts caution that prolonged exposure to emissions from gasoline or diesel generators, particularly carbon monoxide and other pollutants, can pose an added risk for those with respiratory conditions, especially children.

Besides emissions, the constant noise from these machines can impact the rest and quality of life for those living nearby.

This incident occurs amid Cuba's prolonged energy crisis. To maintain essential services during blackouts, many state institutions have turned to power generators, causing complaints from residents in various regions due to their proximity to homes.

Corralillo is among the most affected municipalities in Villa Clara by power cuts in recent weeks, with Rancho Veloz's circuit 55 experiencing some of the longest interruptions.

The situation also highlights the challenges faced by families of cystic fibrosis patients in Cuba. Last April, mothers of children with this condition in Santiago de Cuba and Camagüey reported shortages of medications, suitable food, and failures to deliver promised solar panels to safeguard medical equipment during outages.

Similar issues have been reported in other provinces. In June, a resident of Nuevo Vedado in Havana reported that an ETECSA generator operated continuously next to her building, causing noise and emissions affecting the neighbors.