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The Provincial Health Directorate of Santiago de Cuba published an official statement claiming that "responsibilities" are being evaluated regarding the death of an infant just two months old in the early hours of May 28.
In the statement, health authorities suggested that there was indeed negligence.
“A provincial Health commission of the highest level is investigating the events, with the aim of addressing the errors and medical mistakes made with the corresponding accountability, and confirming that there is no room for impunity in the National Health System”, states the health authority.
The note indicates that the minor arrived at the Emergency and Medical Emergency Service of the Juan de la Cruz Martínez Maceira Pediatric Hospital "after diagnostic investigations conducted at the José Martí polyclinic."
“The lack of insistence on hospitalization, despite the clinical picture presented, resulted in the infant's return to the institution in a critical state, eight hours later”, adds the information.
La Dirección Provincial de Salud, sin embargo, intentó deslindar completamente lo ocurrido de una posible vacunación del lactante.
In fact, they implied—thus refuting the earlier public accusation made by Yomany Mayeta based on the testimony of the victim's family—that the minor had been vaccinated.
“The unfortunate events that occurred are not related to the preventive childhood vaccination system established in the country, which is globally known for its effectiveness; as the child was not recently part of any vaccination schedule”, stated representatives from MINSAP.
In the final segment of the publication, in addition to expressing condolences to the parents and family of the child for the loss, health authorities defended their vaccination program.
"The National Immunization Program, which originated in 1962, has strengthened over the years to provide protection against 13 diseases and severe forms through more than twenty vaccines, including over 10 that are produced domestically," they concluded.
A shocking report
Alex Romano, a healthy two-month-old baby, passed away early Wednesday morning at the Northern Children's Hospital in Santiago de Cuba, known as "La Ondi," after experiencing complications just hours after allegedly receiving a vaccination at the José Martí Polyclinic, as reported by Yosmany Mayeta based on a complaint from the family.
The tragedy occurred in the José Martí District, where the child lived with his family.
According to the previous complaint - which the Santiago MINSAP is now trying to erase any connection with the vaccination - the minor had been taken to the doctor on Tuesday morning to receive the vaccine.
What was supposed to be a routine visit ended, according to the family's complaint, in a nightmare.
"The doctor couldn't find the vein and they pricked his little leg a lot. When he got home, he couldn't stop bleeding,” reported the family source.
After receiving the injection, the baby was allegedly taken back home. However, the persistent bleeding and inconsolable crying raised alarms among his caregivers. Worried about his condition, they took him that same afternoon to the Northern Children's Hospital.
There, after being examined by the medical staff, they assured them that "everything was fine" and decided to send them back home. However, the situation worsened as the hours went by.
“At 9 PM, they returned to La Ondi with the child because he was crying a lot and was barely breathing. According to what we were told, the child suffered a cardiac arrest and died just before midnight,” the source detailed.
Neighbors, friends, and acquaintances of the family described the child on social media as a healthy and thriving boy.
The body of little Alex was laid to rest on Wednesday in a small white coffin. His closest family is demanding justice; a justice that the Provincial Health Directorate of Santiago de Cuba assures will come.
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