Francisca Santos Herrera, a resident of Pueblo Nuevo in southern Yaguajay, Sancti Spíritus, has recently celebrated her 105th birthday. This milestone is particularly notable in a country where food and medicine are scarce, and retirees' pensions are meager. According to a report from the local media outlet Escambray, she is described as a centenarian with the mental acuity of someone much younger.
With 16 children and over 30 grandchildren, Santos Herrera's life has been both challenging and rewarding. Alejandro Méndez, a journalist for state media, portrayed her as an articulate woman with "fluent speech." Born in 1920, she became a widow at 43 while pregnant with her 16th child. Her husband, Higinio Delgado Carrero, was a prominent peasant leader from Remedios who was murdered in 1963 by what was described as "a group of bandits."
On the day of his death, as recounted by one of her daughters in later years, he wasn't scheduled to work but had decided to harvest malanga at La Gloria farm. "He left very early, but it seems the bandits were tipped off and were waiting for him near a farmer named Oscar Rodríguez's house." Tragically, Francisca's husband suffered nearly 50 gunshots. Despite these adversities, she worked tirelessly to support her family, witnessing the deaths of four of her children over the years.
Until last year, the oldest person in Cuba was Lucía Chacón Hechavarría, who passed away in July 2024 at the age of 112 years and 222 days in her hometown of Santiago de Cuba. Born on December 13, 1911, in the region of El Grillo, between Sabanilla and Los Lazos, she was part of the historic Mayarí Arriba, now known as Segundo Frente.
Another long-lived resident of Sancti Spíritus, Luis Sebastián Ortiz Marín, shared last year at the age of 110 that his secret to longevity was a diet of flour, hutias, and fish heads. Interviewed by the official press, the native of San Pedro attributed his longevity to a life of hard work and simple foods. However, today, access to such basic staples is limited, making his "magic formula" nearly impossible to replicate.
Meanwhile, another centenarian from the same region, Cira Delia Vegas Pérez, claims that "luck" has been her only secret to reaching such an advanced age.
Life and Longevity in Cuba
What challenges do elderly people face in Cuba?
Elderly people in Cuba often face challenges such as limited access to food and medicine, and insufficient pensions that do not cover basic living expenses.
How did Francisca Santos Herrera manage to support her family?
After the murder of her husband, Francisca worked hard to care for her family, despite the loss of four of her children over the years.
Who was the oldest person in Cuba before Francisca?
Before Francisca, the oldest person in Cuba was Lucía Chacón Hechavarría, who lived to be 112 years and 222 days old.