By the end of the first eight months of this year, Guantánamo province has reported an alarming infant mortality rate of 14 per 1,000 live births. This concerning statistic has prompted the top Communist Party official in the region to call for urgent measures to address what he described as an "unfavorable" situation in the Maternal and Child Care Program.
Yoel Pérez García, the First Secretary of the Communist Party in Guantánamo, issued this urgent appeal during a regular operational and socioeconomic analysis meeting of the province. The meeting, held via audioconference with municipal authorities, was reported by the official newspaper Venceremos.
This figure far exceeds the national average, which closed 2025 at 9.9 per 1,000 live births—the highest level in over two decades in Cuba, according to data from the Ministry of Public Health (MINSAP).
The deteriorating situation in Guantánamo is not new. By May 2025, the province had already recorded an infant mortality rate of 13.94 per 1,000 live births, nearly double the national average at that time, which was 7.1.
Previous Political Responses and Current Health Crisis
Previously, the Provincial Committee of the Communist Party acknowledged issues such as an "insufficient reserve of doctors in primary care" and the poor condition of the Dr. Agostinho Neto General Teaching Hospital, the main healthcare facility in the province.
The political response at that time focused on ideological strategies, such as encouraging the "protagonism and participation of Party members in the daily activities of health centers" and "strengthening political and ideological work," without announcing any concrete material solutions.
The situation in Cuba's easternmost province highlights a national health crisis. In July, Vice Prime Minister Eduardo Martínez Díaz admitted that health indicators have plummeted to unprecedented lows.
"We once had infant mortality rates of four or five, and now they have doubled due to this situation," he stated during an appearance on the official television program Mesa Redonda.
Challenges in the Cuban Healthcare System
In the same context, the official revealed that over 100,000 people are awaiting surgery in Cuba, including more than 10,000 children. The survival rate for children with cancer has dropped from 85% to 65% due to a shortage of medications.
From a demographic perspective, each infant death has a more significant impact. In 2025, Cuba recorded only 68,064 births, the lowest number since 1899, compared to 136,214 deaths, with the population shrinking to 9.4 million inhabitants.
The national infant mortality rate increased from 4.0 in 2018 to 9.9 per 1,000 live births in 2025, a 148% rise. The government acknowledges this but blames the U.S. embargo, failing to take responsibility for years of heavy investment in hotel infrastructure at the expense of the public health system.
The Ministry of Public Health acknowledged in 2025 that the country is experiencing "one of the most complex moments for the Maternal and Child Care Program since its inception."
Last April, more than 461 out of the 651 essential medicines were unavailable in state pharmacies, representing a deficit of over 70% of the basic drug list.
Key Questions on Cuba's Healthcare Crisis
What is the current infant mortality rate in Guantánamo?
The infant mortality rate in Guantánamo is 14 per 1,000 live births.
How does Guantánamo's infant mortality rate compare to the national average?
Guantánamo's rate of 14 per 1,000 live births is significantly higher than the national average of 9.9 per 1,000 live births.
What factors have contributed to the healthcare crisis in Cuba?
Key factors include the lack of medical supplies, insufficient medical staff, and prioritization of investment in tourism over healthcare infrastructure.