An elderly man of 75 years named Lázaro, residing in Trinidad, Sancti Spíritus province, urgently needs a surgery for two bilateral inguinal hernias that prevent him from moving normally, but he lacks the resources to obtain the surgical mesh and the supplies that the hospital does not provide.
Her story was shared by the Facebook page «El Trinitario de a Pie» and has garnered over 23,500 views.
In the video, Lázaro candidly describes his situation and that of his brother, with whom he lives in precarious housing conditions: "Both of us had two strokes. First him, then me. I have two hernias that are like this. Now I've developed cataracts in both eyes. I can hardly see. I'm diabetic; I have hypertension."
His 71-year-old brother also suffered a stroke. Neither of them has a strong family support network: Lázaro has no children and his brother has one.
In addition to the hernias, Lázaro suffers from cataracts in both eyes, diabetes, and hypertension, and he has a history of cancer surgery performed about a decade ago. He was a professional chef.
The shortage of medications further exacerbates his situation. Lázaro needs metformin, enalapril, aspirin, and topical gel, but none are available at the pharmacies. "I need to take the enalapril, but there isn’t any," he explained, adding that he lost his medication card and that the doctor promised to replace it but never followed through.
The case reflects a widespread reality in Cuban hospitals, where families must procure basic surgical supplies on their own. A 23-year-old Cuban patient who attempted to undergo surgery received a handwritten list from the hospital in June detailing the materials he was required to provide himself: polypropylene mesh, sutures, cannulas, catheters, and even two donations of blood.
The shortage of medications has reached critical levels: in April 2026, it was reported that 461 out of 651 essential drugs were unavailable in state pharmacies, a deficit exceeding 70% of the basic drug list. The crisis of the Cuban hospital system is extending to operating rooms: the WHO reported in May that over 100,000 surgeries were pending in the country.
The comments on the video express outrage and pain. "It's too strong and sad, an entire people left to their fate and the guilty ones talking nonsense on social media, how is it possible, sir, that Cubans are living this way and nothing happens?" wrote Olga Lidia Rodriguez Benitez.
Another user, Lidia Hernandez, called for organizing a support network: "My God, those two poor gentlemen need a lot of help from everyone. What sadness, how much neglect and disregard for the elderly, how they are suffering. I hope they can have a bit of happiness in their final years."
The situation of Cuban elderly people who believed in the Revolution and now face institutional neglect is becoming increasingly evident on social media. A survey conducted with 506 retirees across five provinces found that 98.8% perceive abandonment by the State, and 99% claim that their pension is insufficient to cover basic needs.
Despite everything, Lázaro does not lose hope: "I see everything as so difficult but not impossible."
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