Cuban Activists Seek Support for El Porfiao After Emergency Surgery Following Motorcycle Accident

Cuban activists are calling for support for Nelson Álvarez, popularly known as “El Porfiao,” who is renowned for his work aiding those in need on the island. Álvarez recently suffered a severe motorcycle accident that necessitated an emergency surgery.

Amelia Calzadilla, known for her outspoken social media activism, reported that Álvarez is currently hospitalized at the Hospital Clínico de 26, in room 3D, bed 12. "He could barely speak when I visited because he is in very poor condition. The tube you see in the photo is connected to his lung," Calzadilla shared in a social media post.

Another Cuban, Yankiel Fernandez, who also visited Álvarez in the hospital, stated, "He is doing okay but needs the support of the entire community he has helped so much. These are moments when we need to rally around him; it’s very hard to go through these things alone in a hospital," he said.

"El Porfiao is not alone despite these tense days. I cannot leave him by himself; above all, I am human," Fernandez added, posting a photo showing the activist in a slightly better condition.

Just a few months ago, Álvarez was one of the vocal advocates urging the regime to expedite the process for Amanda, a young girl in need of a liver transplant, to receive treatment outside the island. Last year, after signing the exit permit for his seven-year-old son to seek a better life abroad, Álvarez sent a letter to President Miguel Díaz-Canel, detailing the hardships faced by the Cuban people and pleading for solutions. His message began with a striking phrase: "The Homeland is dying."