The official press, the Ministry of Health, and the Provincial Government of Camagüey presented on Tuesday as an achievement of the Cuban healthcare system the reconstructive surgery of Leandro Gamboa Pelegrín, an 11-year-old boy who suffered severe burns, but they omitted the solidarity campaign that mobilized donations, medical supplies, and assistance from both within and outside Cuba to support his treatment.
Leandro, a resident of Ciego de Ávila, suffered burns on about 60% of his body from an electric shock in December 2023. Although the doctors managed to save his life and performed the initial skin grafts, his family then spent years searching for a solution to address the aftermath of his injuries.
His case gained visibility thanks to the activist Guillermo Rodríguez Sánchez, based in Mexico, and the doctor from Avila, Verona Bonce, who organized a campaign for support on social media both inside and outside of Cuba.
After the official publications, Rodríguez Sánchez held a live broadcast to address what he believes is an attempt to portray the operation as solely the result of institutional coordination.
The activist praised the Camagüey team that carried out the recent intervention: "Four surgeries in one day without any complications is undoubtedly a superlative achievement."
Her complaint, on the other hand, points to everything that was left out of the official version.
According to Rodríguez Sánchez, the campaign raised around $800 for medical supplies, in addition to ointments, gauze, antibiotics, neck braces, and other materials sent for the surgery and recovery period. "I sent everything so there would be no excuses," he stated.
He also stated that a former neighbor of Leandro, currently residing in the United States and who requested to remain anonymous, paid for a private air-conditioned vehicle to transport him from Ciego de Ávila to Camagüey for both the consultation and his preoperative admission.
After being discharged, a family from Camagüey generously offered their home for the child and his mother to stay in during the recovery. Rodríguez Sánchez also stated that food and other expenses continue to be covered through donations coordinated by him, Bonce, and other collaborators.
However, these efforts are not reflected in the official publications about their recovery.
The Provincial Government of Camagüey described the child's medical discharge as "a victory for science" and "an acknowledgment of a healthcare system that prioritizes life."
On her part, the official journalist Miozotis Fabelo Pinares highlighted the "innovative alternatives" employed by the medical team in response to "the limitations and shortages of resources imposed by the blockade."
None of the publications mention Guillermo Rodríguez Sánchez or Verona Bonce, nor do they explain that part of the medications and supplies used were obtained through a solidarity campaign and sent from abroad.
The omission sparked numerous criticisms on social media.
"The main protagonists were missing: Guillermo Rodríguez Sánchez and Verona Bonce, who raised awareness and launched a strong SOS call on social media for the child Leandro. Without medications and supplies, the excellent doctors and nurses would be heartbroken and helpless," questioned a user.
Another recalled that Rodríguez Sánchez has publicly documented the assistance since its inception, including medications, food, transportation, and other expenses related to the child's treatment.
Even a relative of Doctor Orlando Gazmuri, one of the surgeons who operated on Leandro, questioned why his name was also absent: "As always, it's all about politics, and my uncle, who was one of the ones who operated on him, isn't mentioned at all in the publication."
Verona Bonce, for her part, responded by highlighting the child and his mother above any personal recognition.
"The protagonists are Leandro and his mother. Two incredible warriors with extraordinary humility. Without unity and will, nothing is possible," he wrote.
The case occurs amidst the deep crisis facing the Cuban healthcare system, characterized by a shortage of medications, lack of supplies, and thousands of pending surgeries.
In light of these shortcomings, citizen campaigns on social media have become a common way to obtain medications, treatments, and resources that many families cannot find within the state system.
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