The Cuban regime uses the case of the child Damir as an example of its healthcare system and denies his transfer

The Cuban regime aims to use the case of the child Damir Ortiz Ramírez as an example of its healthcare system. The 10-year-old boy suffers from a serious illness and requires specialized treatment that is not available on the island, but the government denies him the transfer to another country under the pretext that it could worsen his condition.

The child and his mother, Eliannis Ramírez, went to the United States Embassy in Havana on Thursday to request a humanitarian visa, after a hospital in Miami agreed to treat him, but the diplomatic mission denied the visa due to a lack of documentation issued by the Ministry of Public Health (MINSAP).

Damir was diagnosed with neurofibromatosis type 1 and has a plexiform neurofibroma in his right eye, along with a possible leukemia under investigation.

Following the prominence that his case has gained online, the government released an editorial emphasizing that it is an example of specialized healthcare and the resources allocated to complex cases.

"Since the onset of his illness, the minor has received specialized medical attention. He has also had access to advanced diagnostic tools, such as a high-field Magnetic Resonance Imaging (...) The Ministry of Public Health of Cuba acquired the necessary treatment for one year of Koselugo (selumetinib), the first and only medication targeted for the treatment of NF 1, for a value of $500,000," reports on the government spokesperson portal "Razones de Cuba."

According to the government, the family has always been informed about the diagnosis, progress, treatments, and life expectancy of the boy.

"Due to the complexity of the illness and the reserved diagnosis, the patient is not in a condition to be transferred; as there would be, among other risks, the potential for cardiac-respiratory arrest, among other complications that could lead to death," he adds.

The last few days have been distressing for Damir's mother, who is currently hospitalized in intensive care at the Juan Manuel Márquez Pediatric Hospital in Havana, suffering from kidney damage and inflammation in both eyes.

According to activist Yamilka Laffita (Lara Crofs), the medical staff initially refused to provide a wheelchair. Ultimately, the mother managed to obtain the wheelchair in the room; then began another ordeal, that of arranging the ambulance transfer to the U.S. embassy.

Diasniurka Salcedo Verdecia, an activist based in the United States, is organizing a fundraising campaign on GoFundMe to cover the expenses for treatment and travel, with a goal of $40,000.

Diasniurka emphasized that Damir could receive treatment at a hospital in Miami, where he will have access to therapies not available in Cuba. Eliannis, his mother, has repeatedly denounced the precariousness and lack of resources in the Cuban healthcare system.

The case of Damir came to public attention in August 2023. His mother has fought through all possible channels to have her son operated on, but she has yet to receive a response from the doctors.

The child's tumor has spread to inoperable areas of the brain, according to Cuban neurosurgeons. Eliannis Ramírez has published several criticisms of the public health system and the bureaucracy that hinders medical care on the Island.

The case has generated a wave of solidarity in the Cuban community and among human rights activists, who continue to demand answers from MINSAP and international support to save Damir's life.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Case of Cuban Boy Damir Ortiz Ramírez and the Healthcare System in Cuba