The death of Yoleidis Carballosa Riverón, a young mother of three residing in Guaro, a municipality in Mayarí, Holguín province, has sparked a wave of shock and questioning on social media after she passed away following an adverse reaction to a blood transfusion received after a cesarean section at the municipal hospital.
The Municipal Directorate of Public Health of Mayarí confirmed the death through a statement published on Facebook, in which it attributed the death to an "acute hemolytic transfusion reaction" due to ABO incompatibility, a complication described as "the most serious and potentially fatal in transfusion medicine."
According to the official version, all established tests were conducted before the transfusion—including the crossmatch test, the hemolysis test, and the verification of blood type and Rh factor—whose results indicated that the blood was compatible and suitable for administration.
The authorities added that, after the reaction occurred, the Provincial Blood Bank repeated the tests without detecting any additional incompatibilities or bacterial contamination in the units used.
In light of the worsening clinical condition, Carballosa Riverón was transferred to the Vladimir Ilich Lenin Clinical Surgical Hospital in Holguín, where, according to the statement, a multidisciplinary team attempted to save her life in the intensive care unit, without success.
Relatives question the medical care
The official explanation has been called into question by the young woman's family and friends.
In a video shared on social media by user José Álvarez, a relative held the hospital responsible for what happened.
"They just killed, to be clear, a young woman with three children," he stated. He also argued that the transfusion may have triggered the reaction that led to the patient's death, although this account has not been confirmed by health authorities.
Visibly affected, the family member also lamented the situation of Yoleidis' three children.
"Three orphaned children... What is that poor creature going to do missing her mother?" she expressed.
In the comments posted under the official note, questions also arose regarding the handling of the case.
A user reported that the patient underwent a cesarean section despite having very low hemoglobin levels and stated that she began to convulse as soon as the transfusion started. Additionally, they claimed that the family has been unable to access the medical records, although this assertion has not been independently verified.
Another internet user summed up the feelings of many users with a message directed at health authorities.
"They talk about protocols and tests, but none of that will bring Yoleidis back to us. Behind this statement is a devastated family and three children who will grow up without their mother. All we ask for is truth, transparency, and justice," she wrote.
A hospital under scrutiny
The case once again places the Mayarí General Hospital under scrutiny, as it has faced several controversies related to medical care in recent years.
In February 2026, a viral complaint claimed that the center had recorded 14 deaths in a single day, although the authorities officially acknowledged four. Months earlier, the maternity ward of the hospital had remained closed for nearly a year for repairs and only reopened in March 2025.
A crisis affecting maternal health in Cuba
The death of Yoleidis occurs in a context of declining maternal and child health indicators in Cuba.
During the first seven months of 2025, maternal mortality increased by nearly 50% compared to the same period the previous year, reaching 56.3 deaths per 100,000 live births.
In May 2026, the death of more than fifteen newborns due to alleged negligence at the Provincial Maternal Hospital of Camagüey once again brought to the forefront the challenges faced by the Cuban healthcare system.
The crisis takes place in a context marked by a shortage of medications, medical supplies, and specialized personnel. The Government itself has acknowledged that the country has only 30% of the essential medicines, a situation that continues to impact hospital care across the island.
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