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The state broadcaster Radio 26 from Matanzas came to the government's defense this Saturday with a press release aimed at discrediting the report by the official journalist Yirmara Torres Hernández, who recently broke the silence regarding the health crisis affecting that Cuban province.
The official statement from Radio 26 de Matanzas is published on the personal Facebook profile of Odalys Oriol Miranda Suárez, provincial director of Radio in Matanzas.
The text accuses foreign digital platforms of “manipulating” and “misrepresenting” a personal post by Torres, in which he stated that there are deaths from chikungunya in his community, contradicting the official narrative that denies deaths associated with the current epidemic outbreaks.
“His intention is to be a 'denunciation' against the system, and it does not reflect a legitimate concern,” stated Radio 26, thereby downplaying the journalist's testimony and aligning with the narrative of the Cuban State.
The broadcaster clarified that the communicator does not hold any leadership positions. The official message defended the role of the authorities, assuring that the health system operates with transparency and commitment. At the same time, it acknowledged the existence of outbreaks of dengue and chikungunya, but categorically denied any concealment of deaths.
The regime once again blamed the United States embargo for the limitations of the healthcare system, without addressing the evident lack of epidemiological control, the unsanitary conditions, and the structural deterioration affecting the province.
A voice of its own that unsettled those in power
The message from Yirmara Torres, a journalist associated with the state radio in Matanzas, was a heart-wrenching testimony in which she recounted how a neighbor of her son passed away after contracting chikungunya, amidst a prior illness.
There are no dead, but there are, he wrote, making a direct reference to the official concealment of deaths associated with the epidemic.
Torres criticized the lack of response from the healthcare system and the living conditions that worsen the crisis: the shortage of medications, water, fumigation, and an increasing unsanitary environment that makes controlling the transmitting mosquito impossible.
“we live in constant stress, poorly nourished, immunocompromised... Nights are filled with mosquitoes, rats, and cockroaches. What vector control will there be like this?,” he questioned.
The journalist, who personally suffered from chikungunya days before, had already warned of the risks of institutional neglect. Her message was not an attack on the system, but rather a desperate plea from within.
Silencing the problem does not solve it
The statement from Radio 26 does not address the health issue, but rather the political impact of an uncomfortable truth. Instead of tackling the causes of the collapse, the official machinery has focused on discrediting a personal publication, as if the problem were the post itself, and not the deaths.
Cuba is sinking into an epidemiological crisis that adds to the economic, food, energy, and migration crises. However, the regime prefers to continue masking figures and suppressing testimonies, even when they come from its own information apparatus.
While hospitals are overwhelmed and families bury their dead without answers or statistics, the priority remains to protect the image, not the people.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Health Crisis in Matanzas due to Chikungunya
What are the most serious complaints regarding the health crisis in Matanzas?
Journalist Yirmara Torres Hernández has reported deaths due to chikungunya in her community, contradicting official statements that deny fatalities. These reports highlight the lack of medication, water, and fumigation, as well as the poor living conditions that exacerbate the health situation in the province.
How has the Cuban government responded to the reports about the chikungunya outbreak?
The Cuban government, through official media such as Radio 26 of Matanzas, has attempted to discredit the claims made by journalist Yirmara Torres, labeling them as manipulated and out of context. Furthermore, the Minister of Health has publicly denied the existence of deaths related to the outbreak.
What conditions have favored the epidemiological crisis in Matanzas?
The accumulation of garbage, lack of sanitation, and power outages are conditions that have favored the proliferation of the Aedes aegypti mosquito, a transmitter of chikungunya. Additionally, the scarcity of medications and the lack of vector control have hampered the management of the outbreak.
What role has the international community played in the crisis in Matanzas?
In the midst of the health crisis, Switzerland has donated a container of medical supplies to the Comandante Faustino Pérez Surgical Clinical Hospital in Matanzas. This assistance is crucial given the reported healthcare collapse and lack of resources in the province.
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