The official spokesperson Humberto López has reacted to the death of the Cuban child Damir Ortiz by sharing a message that critiques the statements made by the child's mother regarding the crisis in the Cuban healthcare system.
In a post on Facebook, where he shared another post from a regime supporter, he wrote: "A child has died, an angel many would say," referring to the words used in the original publication by Orestes Hernández Hernández.
Although one might think this is just another emotional message mourning the passing of the young child this Saturday in a Miami hospital, the author takes the opportunity in the text to judge Eliannis Ramírez, Damir's mother, and a target of criticism from Humberto López and the regime's propaganda media.
"It's a child; it doesn't matter his color, age, or anything else, he's a child," states the publication to express regret over the death and assert that they do not judge the mother, "despite everything that was said".
However, shortly afterward, after mentioning the "statements," he came out to defend the work of Cuban doctors and suggested that Damir's mother was being manipulated to attack the healthcare system on the Island.
"Our doctors (the worthy ones, wherever they may live) do not need defending; their work and effort are from another galaxy. I know them here and in other places. I judge those who stopped her under some promise during a press conference and exposed her and her small child and used her obscenely," the post concluded.
The case of Damir has become a symbol of the deterioration of the Cuban healthcare system. Initially diagnosed with a type of leukemia that he did not have and without receiving the appropriate treatment for a bacterial infection, his situation began to improve after leaving the country with a humanitarian visa, although it deteriorated due to the bacteria contracted on the Island.
After an intense campaign, Damir was transferred to the United States, where he began to receive proper care. From there, Ramírez highlighted the misdiagnoses and, along with other activists, denounced the lack of adequate medical attention on the island for serious illnesses, especially for children like Damir, who had been ill for years without receiving the appropriate treatment.
Although the Cuban regime, through its spokesperson Humberto López, publicly acknowledged the shortcomings of the healthcare system, admitting "we don't have everything," it also issued legal warnings to those who report irregularities in medical care in Cuba, attempting to deflect attention from criticism towards defending the efforts of Cuban doctors.
The MINSAP insisted that the medical decisions regarding Damir were made by consensus and blamed the mother for not authorizing certain procedures. However, Ramírez maintains that the system failed at all levels.
In a propaganda act, the regime summoned a group of doctors to delegitimize Eliannis Ramírez's complaints in the state-controlled media. However, the mother emphasized that the doctors shown on television to discredit her never personally attended to Damir.
Frequently asked questions about the case of Damir Ortiz and the Cuban healthcare system
What deficiencies were reported in the case of Damir Ortiz?
The mother of Damir Ortiz, Eliannis Ramírez, reported incorrect diagnoses and inadequate treatments for her son in Cuba, including a false leukemia diagnosis. She also revealed the lack of resources and proper medical care, which put Damir's life at risk. Damir Ortiz's case exposed serious deficiencies in the Cuban healthcare system, such as misdiagnoses and lack of appropriate treatments.
How did the case of Damir Ortiz affect the perception of the Cuban healthcare system?
The case of Damir Ortiz generated a wave of outrage and amplified criticism of Cuba's healthcare system, both inside and outside the island. Numerous citizens and healthcare professionals in Cuba used social media to express their discontent and highlight the lack of resources, misdiagnoses, and medical negligence. The case became a symbol of the deterioration of the Cuban healthcare system and sparked a wave of criticism against the regime.
What role did social media play in the case of Damir Ortiz?
Social media played a crucial role in bringing attention to the case of Damir Ortiz. Activists and the child’s mother used these platforms to expose the deficiencies of the Cuban healthcare system and to mobilize support for his relocation to the United States. Social media was pivotal in amplifying the reports of inadequate medical care in Cuba. This allowed the case to gain international recognition and for Damir to receive appropriate treatment in Miami.
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