A Cuban mother is pleading with the government for a wheelchair so her five-year-old son can attend school. The young boy suffers from a physical disability that prevents him from walking and standing, and he began his first year of primary education this September without a wheelchair to enable him to move around and attend school in dignified conditions.
The mother, identified on Facebook as ‘La Yessy Yessy,’ made a public post denouncing the neglect by the Cuban State and demanding that social services address her case. “My son is 5 years old, started school, has stiff feet, a crooked spine, and crawls on the floor to play or clings to the wall to bathe. Today was his first day of school, and can you believe that the Cuban State has not provided him with a wheelchair? I have to buy one myself,” the mother stated.
It is noteworthy that the mother describes her son's symptoms but does not mention a medical diagnosis. Based on his symptoms, he could be suffering from cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, spina bifida, or spinal muscular atrophy, among other conditions.
Regardless of the diagnosis, the fact remains that the child “feels self-conscious because he cannot play with other children or sit close to them as he cannot sit in regular chairs without falling,” his mother explained. “How can the State sell wheelchairs instead of giving them to children who cannot walk? They are not to blame for anything. Understand how unhappy they are. I don’t mind buying it for him because it’s for him to go to school and feel comfortable, but I am angry about how shameless this country is, especially regarding children,” she added.
The mother, who admitted to being “desperate,” demanded that the State take care of her son’s situation. A publication from the citizen journalism site La Tijera identified the mother as Yessika Beletre Ramírez, a 22-year-old single mother living in precarious conditions with two other children. The family resides in El Diezmero, in the municipality of San Miguel del Padrón in Havana, and the boy’s name is Raimel Alejandro Estrada Beletre.
“If you wish to help her little boy get the much-needed wheelchair, you can contact his mother at 50585358,” La Tijera stated.
Beyond Cuban Government Propaganda
In April 2019, Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel and the retired general who placed him in power, Raúl Castro Ruz, inaugurated the Amistad Cuba-Vietnam school for children with physical-motor disabilities in Santiago de Cuba. According to Cubadebate, then-Minister of Education Ena Elsa Velázquez "highlighted the fulfillment of Fidel’s long-held dream amid severe economic restrictions and the tightening of the blockade and hostility from the U.S. government, as well as the high costs of special education."
In the capital, the Solidaridad con Panamá school, according to Tribuna de La Habana, offers "classrooms for teaching, job preparation workshops, speech therapy services, psycho-pedagogy, psychology, and rehabilitation."
Moreover, "the institutions aim to provide physical-motor and psychological rehabilitation related to each student's diagnosis and the educational objectives of their respective education levels to ensure continuity of studies."
Despite the Cuban regime's propaganda, the reality is that people with physical disabilities in Cuba endure a painful situation of abandonment, forcing them to turn to social media for help to meet their needs.
Recently, news broke that renowned Cuban actor Jorge Losada, who has been facing various health issues, needed a wheelchair for mobility but could not afford one. Luis Lacosta, an art director at ICAIC who has helped him before, revealed on his Facebook profile that Losada needed to get out, and a wheelchair was the only way to do so. "We don’t have money to buy one," he said.
In April, another case emerged of a Cuban woman with a rare disability preventing her from even standing upright, forcing her to move on all fours. Despite her rare disability, the Cuban State could not provide her with a wheelchair. It was Cuban comedian Limay Blanco, leader of the "Cristo Cambia Vidas" Ministry, who donated two wheelchairs to Raquel, a 62-year-old woman from La Coloma in Pinar del Río.
Frequently Asked Questions about Disability Support in Cuba
This section addresses common questions and concerns about the support for individuals with disabilities in Cuba, particularly focusing on the availability of essential medical equipment like wheelchairs.
Why is it difficult for individuals with disabilities in Cuba to obtain wheelchairs?
The Cuban government often sells wheelchairs instead of providing them for free to those in need. Economic constraints and prioritization issues within the government contribute to the difficulty in accessing essential medical equipment.
What steps has the Cuban government taken to support children with disabilities?
The Cuban government has established specialized schools like the Amistad Cuba-Vietnam and Solidaridad con Panamá, which offer educational and rehabilitation services. However, the effectiveness and reach of these initiatives are often limited by economic difficulties and resource allocation issues.
How can individuals help children with disabilities in Cuba?
Individuals can provide direct assistance by donating medical equipment or financial resources to families in need. Contact information, such as phone numbers, is often shared on social media platforms to facilitate this support.