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The passing this Saturday of doctor Yoel Chala Castañeda, a urologist from Pinar, caused deep shock among friends, former classmates, and patients, who flooded social media with messages of condolence and mourning upon hearing the news.
The information was initially shared on the digital wall of Pinar del Río on Facebook and replicated on the wall of sports commentator Rodríguez Kitin, where acquaintances of the deceased shared the news and recalled his personal and professional journey. So far, no official details have been provided regarding the circumstances of his passing.
Chala Castañeda was a graduate of the IPUEC Antonio Guiteras Holmes in Pinar del Río and maintained close ties with former classmates from that period, who expressed their dismay at the loss.
In the academic field, the doctor published an article in 2022 in the Cuban Journal of Medical Informatics titled "Information Architecture for Medical Indications of Vital Signs and Ventilation," associated with the León Cuervo Rubio Clinical-Surgical Teaching Hospital in Pinar del Río, which demonstrated his interest in modernizing healthcare systems through medical informatics.
He leaves behind his wife Yanet, a daughter, and other family members.
The reactions on social media were numerous and heartfelt. Gustavo González Escobar wrote: “Very sad news, what a pain for all of us who shared moments with him. A tremendous friend. Fly high my brother, rest in peace.”
Jacinto Carcedo Pérez remembered him as an "excellent professional and a tremendous person," adding: "I was fortunate to have him address some of my concerns, always helpful and very decent and supportive."
Julia Castillo Lazo referred to him as an "excellent urologist" and "one of the greats," while Sobe Hernández emphasized that he had "a heart so big and so good."
Olga Díaz expressed, "Your departure hurts, you leave us with a great void, my condolences to all the family."
Aida Rosa Miranda Amaro, for her part, sent her condolences directly to the family: "A great man and a great doctor, my condolences to his wife Yanet, his little girl, and the entire family."
The passing of Chala Castañeda adds to a painful list of Cuban doctors who have passed away in recent years, amidst a backdrop of severe deterioration of the healthcare system on the island, which has experienced the loss of many professionals both within the country and on international missions.
The news circulated exclusively on social media, without any official statement from the Cuban health authorities, a common pattern following the death of healthcare professionals in Cuba.
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