The head of the Cuban Medical Brigade in Venezuela, Dr. Yusleivy Martínez Carmona, stated in a television interview that "all Cuban collaborators are fine, out of danger, and working normally" following the military operation by the United States that ended with the capture of Nicolás Maduro.
However, the official's optimistic speech stands in stark contrast to the testimonies collected by the portal Diario de Cuba (DDC), which reflect panic, isolation, and confinement orders among healthcare professionals in that country.
In a live link from Caracas broadcasted through the Facebook profile of the Cuban Medical Brigade in Venezuela, Dr. Martínez Carmona emphasized that no healthcare facilities were damaged and that “the comprehensive diagnostic centers, rehabilitation rooms, and popular medical clinics are operating at 100% capacity.”
According to Martínez Carmona, all the cooperants are "protected" and "in communication with their families in Cuba."
The account, carefully articulated and filled with phrases typical of the propaganda apparatus, avoided any mention of the Cuban casualties confirmed by the Ministry of the Interior (MININT), which acknowledged on Monday the death of 32 agents from the FAR and MININT in the U.S. attack on January 3.
Instead, the mission chief spoke of "North American imperialist attacks," "militant groups of the United States government," and "the discipline and heroism of the white coat army," echoing the regime's rhetoric to convey calm and control.
The journalist Raúl Rodríguez Peña, author of the report, reinforced that narrative by listing the key points of the official communication: “Normality and Commitment,” “Total operation of our services,” “Security and support for every collaborator,” and “Ideological firmness in the face of external aggression.”
The Facebook post by the Cuban Medical Brigade in Venezuela concluded by praising the medical mission as the "frontline of solidarity," a phrase that echoes the old slogans of Cuban diplomacy during the Cold War.
However, the official statements starkly contrast with the testimonies of Cuban doctors gathered by Diario de Cuba.
The independent media outlet, which spoke with several collaborators on condition of anonymity, reported that the mission leadership ordered confinement to homes and activated the PAMUSE protocol, an evacuation plan that instructs workers to prepare backpacks with basic supplies, documents, and cash for possible emergency relocations.
"We are at home, unable to go out and waiting for instructions from the mission's leadership, which has not yet spoken," a doctor reported from Caracas to DDC.
Another one, destined for the state of Miranda, confirmed that the emergency protocol has been activated and that the coordinators requested to have everything ready "in case evacuation is necessary."
The doctors also assured that the mission's leadership internally denied Maduro's capture, stating that "he was in Miraflores," despite the public confirmation from U.S. President Donald Trump himself.
The contrast between reality and the official narrative reveals the secrecy and information manipulation surrounding medical missions, which have historically been used by Havana as a political tool and a source of income.
Dr. Martínez Carmona, on the other hand, chose to emphasize the "tranquility" and "optimism" of the cooperators, assuring that the Cuban authorities maintain direct contact with them.
However, their intervention was clearly framed within a narrative control campaign driven by the regime following the acknowledgment of the deaths of Cuban agents in Venezuela.
While official media speak of “heroism” and “normalcy,” testimonies from the ground describe fear, misinformation, and enforced silence.
The official discourse aims to project stability and strength, but its insistence on denying any impact or risk reveals a different reality: the regime's communication apparatus has been activated to downplay a diplomatic and humanitarian crisis that directly strikes at the heart of the Caracas-Havana alliance.
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