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Cubalex reported the death of an inmate who passed away due to tuberculosis at the Boniato prison in Santiago de Cuba province.
The inmate -51 years old and identified as Osbety Girón Matos- was held in detachment number 13, section 4, and passed away last week after spending several days hospitalized in the prisoners' ward of the local hospital.
The mentioned NGO specified in a statement that, as a preventive measure, since Friday, February 21, the unit has been placed in quarantine due to the risk of disease spread among the inmate population.
"Factors such as extreme overcrowding, lack of adequate medical care, unsanitary conditions in facilities, poor nutrition, and scarcity of basic resources create an environment where diseases like tuberculosis spread easily, jeopardizing the health and lives of those deprived of their liberty," warned Cubalex.
The case of Osbety Girón Matos highlights the precarious conditions and health risks within Cuban prisons
The situation is worsening due to the lack of effective prevention protocols and institutional negligence, making it difficult to access timely and appropriate medical treatments.
They demand investigations into deaths in state custody
Cubalex reminds that the State is responsible for the life and physical integrity of individuals deprived of liberty, and that deaths due to inadequate medical care and inhumane conditions in prisons cannot be normalized or silenced.
"For this reason, we demand independent investigations and urgent measures to prevent further deaths and ensure respect for human rights in Cuban prisons," they concluded.
As of now, the Cuban authorities have not made any statements regarding this.
The death of Girón Matos becomes the second fatality from tuberculosis reported in a Cuban prison in less than a month.
On January 30, inmate Yankiel Justiz Despaigne, 36 years old, passed away in the Melena del Sur prison, who, according to a previous complaint from Cubalex, did not receive medical attention for the illness.
The deaths in state custody in Cuba reported by Cubalex and the Cuban Prison Documentation Center (CDPC) represent underreporting that attempts to fill the gap left by the absence of official data.
Without figures provided by the authorities and in light of the precarious conditions reported by inmates and their families, the actual number of prisoners who have died from tuberculosis may be even higher.
Numerous testimonies indicate the existence of outbreaks of the disease in various prisons on the island, with authorities failing to take measures to prevent them or to ensure medical care for those affected.
Cubalex has warned that medical negligence in penitentiary facilities is a systematic practice that has resulted in multiple preventable deaths.
This case adds to multiple reports on the structural crisis within the Cuban penitentiary system, where the inadequacy of medical care and prison conditions pose a constant threat to the lives of inmates.
A report from the Cuban Observatory for Human Rights and the independent media elTOQUE revealed that in 2024, at least 40 inmates died in Cuban prisons. In the past five years, there have been 95 deaths in custody or during police actions, in addition to 287 cases of non-lethal police violence.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Prison Crisis in Cuba
What is the cause of Osbety Girón Matos's death in Boniato prison?
Osbety Girón Matos died from tuberculosis in the Boniato prison, Santiago de Cuba. This case highlights the precarious sanitary conditions and the lack of adequate medical care in Cuban prisons, which facilitate the spread of infectious diseases such as tuberculosis.
What factors contribute to health risks in Cuban prisons?
The health risk in Cuban prisons is due to several factors, including extreme overcrowding, lack of adequate medical attention, unsanitary conditions in the facilities, poor nutrition, and scarcity of basic resources. These conditions create an environment conducive to the spread of diseases, endangering the health and lives of the inmates.
What actions have human rights organizations taken regarding the deaths in Cuban prisons?
Organizations like Cubalex demand independent investigations and urgent measures to prevent new deaths and ensure respect for human rights in Cuban prisons. These organizations have been crucial in highlighting the inhumane conditions and medical negligence within the Cuban penitentiary system.
What response have the Cuban authorities given to the reports of deaths in prisons?
Until now, the Cuban authorities have not issued statements regarding the reports of deaths and inhumane conditions in prisons. This lack of official response underscores the critical situation and the need for international intervention to address human rights violations in the Cuban penitentiary system.
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