Related videos:
A report circulated on social media warns about the alleged lack of medical attention for a young man identified as Vladimir Pileta Calderín, 23 years old, who is detained in the penitentiary center known as Confianza in Santiago de Cuba.
The case has been brought to light by independent communicator Yosmany Mayeta Labrada, who noted that the inmate "suffers from hepatitis and has still not been transferred to a hospital to receive the necessary medical attention." According to the post, the family fears a deterioration in his health condition due to the lack of specialized assistance and is “desperate over the lack of response from the prison and health authorities.” So far, there is no official public information confirming his clinical status or any potential hospital transfer.
Hepatitis is a disease that can worsen without timely treatment and proper medical follow-up. In closed environments such as prisons, the implementation of health protocols is crucial to prevent complications and potential infections.
Dozens of comments on the post express concern for the young man's health and demand immediate medical attention. "Please, he is a human being, he hasn't killed anyone, he is imprisoned for survival; take care of that man," wrote one user. Another commented, "Even though he is incarcerated, he is a human being and has every right to be treated by doctors." There were also warnings based on past experiences: "In Boniato, they didn't take my brother out in time, and it was already too late."
Among the reactions, the potential epidemiological risk in prison was also mentioned: “All inmates with hepatitis must be isolated and treated because they are human beings, and this prevents a massive outbreak,” expressed another internet user. Most of the messages appeal for the young man's swift recovery and for the urgent intervention of the authorities.
In recent months, reports have emerged regarding the deaths of individuals deprived of liberty in various prisons across the country, allegedly linked to lack of medical attention and conditions of confinement. In October 2025, it was reported that inmate Serguey Marrero Faure died in the Provincial Prison of Guantánamo after experiencing “a health condition that was not adequately addressed,” according to reports from the organization Cubalex.
Additionally, in April 2025, the death of Maikel Ponte Herrera was reported in the Melena del Sur prison, after he spent several days on a hunger and thirst strike, in a case documented in this report. Independent organizations have warned about alleged patterns of medical negligence, malnutrition, and outbreaks of diseases in the country's penitentiary centers.
So far, the Cuban authorities have not provided any public information regarding the specific situation of Vladimir Pileta Calderín or the health conditions in the Confianza prison.
Family members and close friends are insisting on ensuring an urgent medical evaluation and access to appropriate treatment, while concerns in the community are growing regarding the young man's health.
Filed under: