Reynier Hidalgo González, a Cuban resident of Báguano, Holguín, issued a desperate plea for help on Wednesday due to the critical situation he faces because of his illness and the lack of medical attention, worsened by the scarcity of basic food items, which has led to a serious decline in his health.
On Facebook, Hidalgo held the Cuban regime responsible for his current health status: “Let it be known that if I die from anemia, the government will be solely to blame, because there are plenty of good food options for hotels and tourists, but for people receiving social assistance, there is practically nothing,” he stated.
The 30-year-old man noted that with the 2,600 pesos he receives monthly, he can only buy the little that arrives at the store, which he compares to a desert due to the lack of essential products.
In a comment, the Cuban explained that he suffers from arthritis, psoriasis, "and to make matters worse, lupus has developed due to the side effects of the medications I take for the first two conditions."
Hidalgo described the suffering he endures not only due to his illness but also because of the despair of witnessing how the lack of food and medicine worsens his condition: “The government is unable to supply the essentials for proper nutrition, which only increases my torment,” he lamented.
He pointed out that since he was 21, after leaving military service, "my life turned into suffering and pain, a chronic pain that is only slightly eased by painkillers."
"And to make matters worse, the government is leaving us with the lowest salaries while food prices are so high," lamented the young man.
Despite the seriousness of his situation, Hidalgo said he will fight to survive: “I will not give up until my last breath in trying to get one of my posts to someone who can help us, because I repeat, I do not want to die.”
Her story highlights the harsh reality that many Cubans face amid the ongoing economic and social crisis in the country, where basic needs such as healthcare and food seem unattainable for the most vulnerable.
Recently, the farmer Delio Ramírez Rosales used his social media to highlight the poor nutrition that many Cubans are facing, sharing an example of the meal he "enjoyed" and for which he expressed his gratitude to God.
The crusty rice, that burnt rice from the bottom of the pot (which many hungry Cubans have enjoyed), was the "delicacy he savored" Ramírez Rosales before heading to bed early to rise again in the field.
"I work like a dog from sunrise to sunset, and sometimes it's tough for me. Today, I had only leftover rice to eat. I wanted to have it with water and sugar, but when I checked, I didn't have any sugar... And I thanked God for the leftover rice," said the farmer on Facebook.
Amid this situation, the regime announced that in September, there will continue to be shortages of the goods regulated by the rationing booklet.
Betsy Díaz Velázquez, the Minister of Domestic Trade in Cuba, explained to state media that "we do not have any plans for September, just as there were none in August, for neither oil nor coffee."
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