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The political prisoner Yilian Oramas García, who is HIV-positive and suffers from multiple chronic illnesses, is experiencing a critical health condition due to the worsening of her ailments because of lack of access to medication and a medical diet in prison, reported the independent organization Cubalex on Thursday.
Oramas’ health, who is serving a six-year sentence for peacefully protesting in Santa Clara in 2021, “is deteriorating severely,” alerted the NGO in a statement.
Oramas is at home in the capital of Villa Clara, "in critical health," as his blood pressure is unstable, diabetes is uncontrolled, the viral load is very high, and his hemoglobin level is dangerously low; additionally, he is suspected of suffering from ischemic heart disease, according to Cubalex.
Due to her delicate condition, it is expected that she will be transferred next week to the Pedro Kourí Institute of Tropical Medicine (IPK) in Havana for medical examinations.
"Her situation is a direct consequence of the conditions of confinement in the 'Cuba-Panamá' prison for people with HIV-AIDS, where there is a shortage of antiretrovirals, nutrition is inadequate, and an unsanitary environment prevails," warned Cubalex.
"This reality constitutes a serious violation of their rights to health and life", he emphasized.
The text recalled that Oramas was deprived of her liberty by the Cuban regime solely for peacefully exercising her right to protest, being “one of the hundreds of Cuban women who remain imprisoned for political reasons, repressed for raising their voices against injustice.”
Cubalex urged Cubans to demand their immediate freedom.
On August 15, 2021, a group of people staged a protest in front of the Marta Abreu funeral home in Santa Clara, due to the lack of oxygen and proper care in hospitals for Covid-19 patients.
Oramas was arrested by the police, along with Maikel Armentero Oramas. A note published by Cubadebate, the official portal of the Cuban regime, did not disclose the charges against those detained, but accused them of "using the funeral home as a stage to create public disorder, disturbing and upsetting family members who were saying goodbye to their loved ones at that moment."
A court found her guilty of assault and resistance and sentenced her to six years in prison, which she is serving in a correctional facility in the province of Mayabeque.
In August 2024, Oramas went on a hunger strike for two weeks after prison authorities revoked his benefits for returning late from a pass to his home in Santa Clara, over 250 km from the prison, reported Martí Noticias.
Despite her delicate health condition, Oramas was not among the prisoners released during the release of 553 prisoners process, which began on January 14, following an agreement reached with the mediation of the Vatican.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Situation of Political Prisoners in Cuba
What is the current health status of Yilian Oramas García, the political prisoner with HIV?
Yilian Oramas García is in critical health condition due to lack of access to medication and proper nutrition in prison. He is experiencing unregulated blood pressure, uncontrolled diabetes, a high viral load, and dangerously low hemoglobin levels.
Why was Yilian Oramas García imprisoned in Cuba?
Yilian Oramas García was sentenced to six years in prison for peacefully protesting in Santa Clara in 2021, charged with the crimes of assault and resistance. Her case is one of many where Cuban women have been imprisoned for political reasons.
What organizations have reported on the situation of political prisoners in Cuba?
The human rights organization Cubalex has been one of the leading voices denouncing the inhumane conditions and lack of adequate medical care for political prisoners in Cuba, including cases of malnutrition, tuberculosis, and systematic repression.
What consequences does the Cuban government face due to the conditions in its prisons?
The Cuban government faces international criticism for systematic human rights violations in its prisons, where unsanitary conditions, lack of medical care, and political repression prevail, leading to multiple preventable deaths.
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