A 13-year-old girl tragically passed away in Havana amidst ongoing power outages after her family administered a dose of insulin. It remains unclear whether the medication was compromised due to lack of refrigeration caused by the widespread blackouts affecting all Cubans or if it came from a defective batch. "We don't know exactly what happened. We suspect the batch was bad. She was supposed to receive her insulin at night, and as soon as she did, she collapsed. They had been without power for days," a source revealed.
"It was a new vial, not one that had been opened. That insulin needed to be refrigerated. The girl passed away. She had been diabetic since she was two years old," the source emphasized. This information, provided by a contact reached by phone by CiberCuba, corroborates a Facebook post from a user named "Mandarina Choc Choc," claiming to be a friend of the deceased girl's family. The family reportedly rushed the wake due to a lack of resources for a proper ceremony.
Outrage and Despair Amidst Power Crisis
The person who shared the WhatsApp messages on Facebook recounted that a relative of the girl said, "Estela, they've killed my daughter." The recipient of the message confirmed the family's statement, attributing the tragedy to the massive blackouts that began in Cuba last Friday. "They couldn't properly refrigerate the insulin, and when she took the night dose, it was spoiled due to the temperature changes, the heat, or whatever, and she died," the post explained.
"Doctors, despite pressure, listed it on the death certificate," the Facebook post insisted. "I have no words. There is no comfort. There is no way to make this right. How many cases are there? It's impossible not to feel anger and a desire for revenge," it continued.
Medical Perspective on Insulin Fragility
A screenshot of the messages shared on Facebook shows a supposed family member of the deceased girl responding, "I can't talk now. I will write to you calmly when I have the strength. The insulin went bad due to lack of refrigeration. We had been without electricity for days. This is a nightmare. I don't want to live anymore."
Ana Peinado, a Spanish pediatrician from the Virgen de las Nieves Children's Hospital in Granada (Andalusia), explained to CiberCuba that "unrefrigerated insulin loses its effectiveness, and the patient can die within hours if not taken to a hospital. This happens because the medication does not work, leading to a serious complication of diabetes called ketoacidosis," she stated.
Government's Response Under Scrutiny
Since the massive blackout on October 18, 2024, following the shutdown of the Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant, Cubans have faced a living nightmare. The government, led by Miguel Díaz-Canel, predictably blamed the U.S. embargo, fuel shortages due to financial constraints, and outdated power plants. However, they have yet to address any political accountability for the crisis.
In the wake of these enduring outages, the nation's productivity and essential services like education have ground to a halt. Across various parts of the country, citizens have resorted to banging pots in protest, to which the Cuban leader responded with a televised threat, warning against such peaceful demonstrations.