Mailene Noguera, a former political prisoner who took part in the July 11, 2021 protests in Batabanó, south of Havana, is in a life-threatening situation following an inadequately managed cancer treatment. Her dire situation highlights the deficiencies within Cuba's healthcare system, as reported in an urgent appeal by activist Carolina Barrero this Thursday.
Noguera, who was 34 at the time of her peaceful protest on July 11, was sentenced to four years in prison, which she served in full. Upon her release in January 2025, she had already developed a noticeable breast tumor.
Since then, her medical care has been fraught with interruptions: she received only five out of the six planned preoperative chemotherapy cycles due to the unavailability of the final medication. Additionally, she was given 17 of the 18 prescribed doses of immunotherapy for the same reason. Furthermore, she missed all 15 of her scheduled radiotherapy sessions because the necessary equipment was out of order.
Mailene, now 39, recounts her experience with a striking calm: "I was supposed to have six chemo sessions and only got five because the last one wasn't available. I had eighteen vaccines scheduled and received seventeen, again due to shortages. As for radiation, I couldn't have a single session because the machine was broken."
Approximately nine months ago, she underwent a radical mastectomy. However, about three months ago, a new tumor emerged over the surgery scar, becoming abscessed and increasingly large, severely worsening her health.
The activist emphasizes that this cannot be dismissed as mere negligence: "Negligence suggests oversight. This is a systematic issue. The same government that imprisoned her for protesting is responsible for providing incomplete, delayed, and interrupted treatment due to drug shortages and malfunctioning equipment. First, they stole four years of her freedom; now they threaten to take the rest of her life."
Mailene is a mother to an 18-year-old daughter and a 14-year-old son, and just a month ago, she celebrated becoming a grandmother for the first time.
Her case reflects a broader pattern of medical neglect towards those previously incarcerated by the regime. In September 2025, Prisoners Defenders reported that 472 Cuban political prisoners suffered from serious health issues without proper care. According to Justice 11J in April 2026, 338 individuals remained imprisoned specifically for their involvement in the July 11 protests, out of a total of 775 political prisoners.
Mailene's situation illustrates that neglect did not cease after her imprisonment but persisted post-release, amidst a public health system crippled by chronic drug shortages and deteriorating equipment, symptomatic of the island's systemic crisis.
Human Rights Watch identified Mailene Noguera among the Batabanó protestors arrested in October 2021, charged with public disorder. In January 2022, the prosecution sought a sentence of six years and six months; she was ultimately sentenced to four years.
"I rarely make personal appeals, but this time I urge you to join a campaign to save this silent and immense heroine," Barrero wrote in her public denunciation.
Understanding the Health Crisis of Former Political Prisoners in Cuba
What led to Mailene Noguera's critical health condition?
Mailene Noguera's health deteriorated due to interrupted cancer treatment, lack of necessary medications, and non-functional medical equipment within the Cuban healthcare system.
How has the Cuban government been implicated in her medical neglect?
The Cuban government is implicated through its failure to provide complete and timely medical treatment, aggravated by systemic shortages and equipment failures, following her imprisonment for political protest.
What is the broader context of medical neglect for former prisoners in Cuba?
The neglect Mailene faces is part of a documented trend where political prisoners in Cuba receive inadequate medical attention, both during and after incarceration, due to systemic issues in the healthcare system.