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The Ministry of Public Health of Cuba announced this Thursday a special appearance on television and radio to provide its version of the case of the child Damir Ortiz, the 10-year-old boy who was transferred to the United States in critical condition for medical treatment.
According to the official information released by the government newspaper Granma, authorities from the Juan Manuel Márquez Pediatric Hospital, the Institutes of Hematology and Immunology, Neurology and Neurosurgery, as well as the Ministry of Public Health, will appear this Friday on the Revista Buenos Días (after 7:15 a.m.) and on the program Haciendo Radio (after 8:00 a.m.).
The intervention will seek to "explain the procedures followed by Cuban institutions in cases of such medical complexity" and highlight the "ethics and sensitivity of the Cuban health profession," emphasizes the statement.
In recent weeks, Damir's case has garnered significant attention on social media, where his mother, Eliannis Ramírez, and Cuban activists have denounced the lack of adequate medical attention on the island for patients with serious illnesses.
After multiple efforts, pressure from activists, and the financial support of thousands of Cubans, Damir was transferred on March 12 in a air ambulance and in critical condition to a hospital in South Florida, where he received a different diagnosis than the one given to him in Cuba.
The case has sparked strong criticism against the healthcare system on the island.
Ramírez stated that his son arrived at Nicklaus Children's Hospital in Miami in a septic condition due to a lung bacteria that had not been detected on the island; he claimed that his son does not have the type of leukemia that was diagnosed and mentioned that he will conceal the definitive diagnosis to file a lawsuit against the regime.
Activists have also reported that the child was misdiagnosed and subjected to inappropriate treatment on the island, which may have endangered his life.
In contrast, the regime insists on defending the care received in Cuba and claims that all efforts were made despite the shortcomings of the Health System.
The mother of the minor has decided to keep Damir's current diagnosis a secret, a measure that, according to activist Diasniurka Salcedo, aims to prevent the Cuban government from manipulating information and preparing for potential legal actions in the future.
Salcedo also stated that the regime has been inquiring about the child's condition from Havana, which has raised suspicions about its true intentions behind this "special appearance" in the official media.
For many, the regime may be plotting another manipulation of the case using the strategy of defaming the victims that it frequently employs in its "denials."
Increasingly, Cuban families are turning to social media to bring attention to cases of pediatric patients with serious illnesses that cannot be treated on the island, seeking assistance to transfer them to hospitals in other countries.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Case of the Cuban Child Damir Ortiz
Why has the case of Damir Ortiz generated so much attention?
The case of Damir Ortiz has garnered attention due to the lack of adequate medical care in Cuba to address his complex health condition, which led to his transfer to the United States. Damir's mother and activists have denounced medical negligence and misdiagnosis on the island, which put the child's life at risk and sparked a wave of criticism against the Cuban healthcare system.
What was Damir's initial diagnosis in Cuba and what did they discover in the United States?
In Cuba, Damir was misdiagnosed with Burkitt's leukemia, but upon arriving in the United States, the doctors ruled out this diagnosis and found that Damir did not actually have leukemia. Furthermore, they discovered that he had a serious previously undetected lung infection from Cuba.
Why did Damir's mother decide to keep her son's current diagnosis a secret?
The mother of Damir, Eliannis Ramírez, decided to keep her son's current diagnosis a secret to protect the case against potential legal actions against the Cuban regime. This aims to prevent the government from manipulating the information and preparing to counter any accusations.
How has the Cuban regime responded to the criticisms regarding the Damir case?
The Cuban regime has attempted to defend the medical care that Damir received on the island, insisting that the Cuban healthcare system is effective and specialized. However, criticisms have been numerous, especially on social media, where activists and the child's mother have denounced negligence and a lack of resources in the Cuban healthcare system.
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