AGP Executive Report

Power & Health Access: Isla de la Juventud is running on emergency electricity only for the hospital and the water pumping system, while most of the island stays without power from early morning due to a fuel deficit. Food & Cost Pressure: Inflation remains stubborn, with July CPI up 2.56% and food driving most of the increase, while Cubans keep sharing daily coping stories—from cooking eggs without oil to show how shortages hit households. Healthcare System Strain: A University of Camagüey–Seville project aims to map buildings for healthcare facilities for an aging population, linking heritage spaces with cognitive health needs. Medication & Delivery Woes: Correos de Cuba again cites fuel shortages for major package delays, including shipments carrying medicines and hygiene items. US Policy Spillover: New US “public charge” guidance starting Sept. 18 could widen scrutiny of green card applicants’ finances and public benefits, adding uncertainty for families tied to Cuba through migration and care. Community Health & Safety: A fire at the Central Sterilization Unit of Camagüey’s pediatric hospital triggered panic among doctors and patients.

Cuba Healthcare Under Strain: A new report says Cuba’s universal health system is collapsing under near-constant blackouts, with hospitals short on power, ambulances limited by fuel, vaccines at risk, and pharmacies nearly empty—showing that “free care” can’t survive without electricity, water, transport, and refrigeration. Poverty and Access Crisis: A social rights study released Aug. 13 claims 94% of Cubans live in extreme poverty, most households skip meals, and healthcare access is worsening—fueling daily desperation. Health Infrastructure Incident: A fire at the Central Sterilization Unit of Camagüey’s Pediatric Hospital caused panic among doctors and patients, highlighting fragile hospital support systems. Solidarity for Care: A football-shirt collaboration (Bohs with Massive Attack) is raising funds for medical aid to Cuba, including supplies meant to keep hospitals running through blackouts. Human Rights and Medical Risk: A woman detained after protests over blackouts is reportedly being held without bail despite hemophilia, raising alarms about access to specialized care. Violence With Health Impact: A Cuban laborer in Georgetown was stabbed during an e-bike robbery and is receiving medical attention, underscoring how crime can quickly become a health emergency.

Health & Safety in Cuba: A fire at the Eduardo Agramonte Piña Pediatric Hospital in Camagüey sparked panic after a false phone-based seismic alert hit the same day; staff tried to smother flames with soil while waiting for extinguishers. Women’s Health & Justice: Cuba’s statistics office says 49 femicide trials were registered in 2025, a slight drop from prior years, while independent groups report higher counts. Adolescent Health: ONEI data shows adolescent fertility staying high, with the biggest resistance to decline among the youngest girls and worsening rates in eastern provinces. Medical Access & Work: Guyana’s president says Cubans seeking jobs there—including health workers—must enter legally and be hired under local labor rules after Cuba ended its medical brigade arrangement. Human Rights & Care Needs: Cubalex reports Doraykis Delgado González, detained after a blackout protest in Alamar, has hemophilia and is being held without bail. Energy Crisis Reality: Russia delivered humanitarian aid to Cuba including flashlights amid ongoing power outages. Public Health Risk: A false earthquake alarm spread via phones across multiple provinces, later confirmed as unsupported by official monitoring.

Cuba Health Under Pressure: Cuba’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment, Déborah Rivas, says the strengthened U.S. blockade is “killing people,” citing shortages of medicines, fuel and water—and warning that 15,000 children are waiting for surgery because hospitals lack resources. Local Health Access: Holguín commissioned eco-friendly cars to keep hemodialysis patients reliably transported to two major hospitals, with test runs starting this week. Cuban Medical Solidarity Abroad: Cuban-trained physicians are supporting earthquake relief in Colombia, including the Los Mambí brigade serving hard-hit regions like Chocó. Women in Care and Production: A report highlights how Cuban women’s organizations are sustaining healthcare and community services amid the blockade, from neonatal support to roles in hospitals and education. Health Policy Shock (US, impacts Cubans): New U.S. guidance on Green Card “public charge” rules and broader benefit restrictions could leave some lawfully present immigrants—including Cubans—at risk of losing Medicare coverage.

Medical Solidarity in Crisis: Cuban physicians trained at ELAM are supporting Colombia’s earthquake response, sending teams to hard-hit areas like Chocó and other cities as the death toll nears 300. Local Health Access: Guantánamo launched 20 electric vehicles to transport hemodialysis patients, with plans to shift charging to solar. Care Through Donations: In Matanzas, a couple donated cisplatin cancer medication vials to a family after a social-media plea—helping treatment without resale. Health Services Upgrades: Las Tunas reopened and inaugurated community works tied to Fidel Castro’s centenary, including a renovated nursing home and new purified-water access. Diplomacy & Health Links: Dominican leftist MPD called the expulsion of Cuban diplomats “shameful,” citing Cuba’s past role in training Dominicans in health and sports. Energy Strain, Everyday Health: A viral Havana clip shows how blackouts push residents to trade portable chargers for “life advice,” highlighting daily survival pressures. Healthcare Funding Debate: U.S. politics heats up as Florida socialist candidates push “Medicare for All” while facing anti-socialism sentiment from Cuban-heritage voters.

Health Access & Supplies: Russia delivered humanitarian aid to Cuba amid an energy crisis, including food, sweets, flashlights, USB drives, and first-aid kits, with Cuban officials thanking partners as medicines and fuel remain scarce. Local Health Infrastructure: Santiago de Cuba’s health service received new ambulances to improve urgent patient transport and care. Childhood Care: Camagüey inaugurated a new “13 de Agosto” children’s center in San Miguel, set to serve up to 35 kids with education and play spaces starting next school year. Cancer Care Under Pressure: A youth delegation visited Cuba’s pediatric and oncology facilities, highlighting how the U.S. blockade restricts access to cancer medicines, supplies, and working equipment. Food Costs & Nutrition Stress: One analysis estimates a child’s monthly breakfast and snack in Cuba could exceed 10,000 pesos, underscoring how rising prices squeeze basic nutrition. Diplomacy & Health Cooperation: A U.S. embassy official met with the Bahamas ambassador in Havana to discuss the situation in Cuba, as Caribbean ties and medical brigade arrangements remain in flux. Political Prisoners: Prisoners Defenders reported Cuba closed July 2026 with 1,327 political prisoners, including a 13-year-old detained after blackout protests.

Health & Access: A Cuban journalist in Miami says his father’s emergency appendicitis surgery in Spain highlighted what many families fear at home—he believes the same emergency in Cuba “might not have survived,” pointing to shortages of electricity and medical supplies. Medical Aid & Supplies: Irish club Bohemian FC launched a Che Guevara–inspired jersey with 30% of proceeds going to Cuba Vive Medical Aid Appeal and mediCuba-Europe, aiming to send medications, surgical equipment, and hospital supplies. Public Health Education: Las Tunas medical university students held a virtual workshop, “The FEU for a Healthy University,” to tackle well-being, communication, and campus support. System Strain & Care Risks: Cuba’s president reiterated the island is willing to talk with the U.S. “without pressure,” as the country faces worsening power instability and grid failures that can disrupt healthcare. Crisis Demographics: A demographer warns Cuba’s population could fall to about 5.6 million if low fertility, high mortality, aging, and emigration continue—an added pressure on future health and social services. Community Health Context: A new photo exhibition in Wellington, “Now You See Me,” spotlights endometriosis—chronic pain, infertility, and healthcare-system gaps—reflecting the broader global push for better diagnosis and support. Violence & Vulnerable Lives: Opposition activist Diosbel Véliz Marín was stabbed to death in Havana; activists called for a transparent investigation, underscoring safety risks that also affect health and access to care.

Cuban Health & Daily Life: A new wave of hardship is hitting households as Cubans report worsening shortages and blackouts, including one Havana activist preserving cider for “the day the dictatorship falls,” while describing electricity cuts that can reach 30 hours with only 3 hours of power. Food & Nutrition Stress: Cubans are also venting over soaring cooking-oil prices in a “grease strike,” with residents saying lard and butter are just as out of reach, pushing people toward limited alternatives like coconut oil. Health Access & Costs: In the U.S., a heart-transplant survivor’s fight for an anti-rejection medicine highlights how coverage changes can spike bills from $180 to $1,000, underscoring the real-world stakes of medication affordability for Cuban families abroad. Policy Pressure: The U.S. is reportedly shifting its Cuba approach toward tighter sanctions and cutting regime revenue rather than military options, aiming to pressure leadership through economic isolation. Civic & Rights Updates: A 2021 protest participant, Fernando Michael Bárzaga, has been released after serving his sentence, renewing attention on Cuba’s political prisoners and the broader climate affecting public well-being.

Food & Nutrition Crisis: Cuba’s food squeeze remains front-page news as Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez thanks China for a third rice shipment of 15,000 tons (part of 60,000 tons total), underscoring how shortages are reshaping daily life. Public Health & Water Safety: In Camagüey, residents report overflowing sewage in the streets for over four years, with repeated complaints about contaminated water and service failures raising health risks. Healthcare Under Strain: Opposition activist Guillermo del Sol Pérez is reported in critical condition after nearly 60 days on hunger strike, with family saying he needs continuous medical monitoring. Access to Care & Services: The University of Havana opened a second chance to fill 123 unclaimed distance-learning History spots, a reminder of how education and workforce prospects are shifting amid emigration and limited opportunities. Community Health & Hygiene: In Havana’s San Miguel del Padrón, a cleanup left behind stagnant, murky waste and decomposing trash—sparking fresh concerns about sanitation and mosquito/rodent risks. Political Prisoners & Rights: Fernando Michael Bárzaga was released after serving his sentence for the 11 July 2021 protests, while other detainees remain jailed.

Cuba Health & Care Under Pressure: Cuba’s health system is again in the spotlight as the island marks Fidel Castro’s centenary amid a worsening squeeze tied to U.S. energy and economic pressure—posters and slogans appear in hospitals, while coverage highlights how shortages and power cuts are straining care and pushing migration of health workers. Food Prices Hit Health Budgets: In Las Tunas, a retired health worker says eggs now cost 135 CUP each, with reports of even higher prices elsewhere—an affordability shock that can ripple into nutrition and household health. Food Production Push in Havana: Vice President Salvador Valdés Mesa and PM Manuel Marrero Cruz toured a Havana defense zone and demanded higher food output, while also checking energy security for healthcare institutions and water access. International Solidarity for Health: Donations and aid efforts tied to Cuba’s centenary and wider humanitarian needs continue, including reports of ambulances and support for hospitals. U.S. Sanctions Strategy: Bloomberg reports the Trump administration is shifting toward tighter sanctions and cutting regime revenue rather than military action—an approach that could further affect medicines, fuel, and hospital operations.

Sanctions Focus: Bloomberg reports the Trump administration is putting the military option against Cuba on hold and shifting to tighter economic pressure to cut regime revenue and force fractures. UN Humanitarian Warning: The UN says fear of U.S. sanctions is driving “overcompliance,” delaying or rerouting aid—leaving hospitals and schools short on essentials, including cancer medicines and reproductive-health kits. Food & Cost Strain: In Las Tunas, an egg reportedly costs 135 CUP, sparking outrage as Cubans compare prices to low wages; leaders also renewed calls to boost food production in Havana’s defense zones amid a worsening agricultural crisis. Healthcare Supply Moves: Santiago de Cuba’s main hospital received five ambulances for emergency care, while Cuba also marked Fidel’s centenary with health-themed events. Power & Daily Hardship: Reports highlight ongoing blackouts and shortages, with UN and local voices tying the crisis to the blockade’s impact on basic services. Diplomacy & Solidarity: Namibia’s president renewed calls for the complete, unconditional lifting of the U.S. embargo during Fidel’s centenary events.

Humanitarian Fallout of U.S. Sanctions: A UN official says fear of U.S. reprisals is pushing shippers, insurers, and banks to “overcomply,” delaying or rerouting aid to Cuba, including cancer drugs and water-treatment gear. Energy & Health Strain: Cuba’s fuel squeeze is worsening rolling blackouts, and residents describe basic shortages hitting the elderly hardest. Water Disruptions in Havana: A pipeline breakdown left parts of eastern Havana without water, with service changes affecting multiple neighborhoods and scheduled repairs. Fidel Centenary, Global Solidarity: Photo and diplomatic events marking Fidel Castro’s 100th birthday continue across the region, including Venezuela ceremonies and UN-linked exhibitions. Medical Aid Fundraising: Ireland’s Bohemian F.C. and Massive Attack launched a Cuba-themed jersey, with 30% of profits supporting medical aid appeals for Cuba. U.S.-Cuba Tensions: Reports say the U.S. is putting a military option against Cuba on hold while leaning on economic pressure. Health Costs Abroad Highlighted: A pregnant Cuban woman’s U.S. ER bill and fear of future charges underscore how costs can deter care.

Health & Hardship in Focus: A new IX Report on Social Rights in Cuba says extreme poverty now hits 94% of Cubans, with 8 in 10 skipping meals due to lack of money or food, as power cuts and medicine shortages deepen the crisis. Emergency Care Boost: Russia donated three ambulances to strengthen Cuba’s emergency system, including a newborn-focused mobile unit for Havana. Energy & Public Health Angle: China delivered another 5,000 solar photovoltaic systems aimed at rural communities and health centres, as Cuba’s grid struggles under the energy siege. Food Security: Cuba received the third shipment of 15,000 tons of Chinese rice (part of a 60,000-ton donation), landing amid the centenary week. Cuba Under Pressure: U.S. officials again highlighted the case of MMA fighter “Spiderman,” while Cuba’s centenary events unfolded against ongoing shortages and blackouts. Community Support: A Miami benefit concert is set to raise funds for earthquake relief in Venezuela and Colombia, with proceeds also supporting mental health services.

Energy & Health Access: China delivered a second batch of 5,000 solar photovoltaic systems to Cuba, aimed at rural communities, health centres, day nurseries and bank branches—another push to ease the grid strain behind blackouts. Social Rights & Food Security: A new study released as Cuba marks Fidel Castro’s 100th birthday says extreme poverty affects 94% of Cubans and 8 in 10 people have skipped meals due to lack of money or food, with 95% expressing negative views of the government’s economic and social management. Medical Cooperation: Belarus’s ambassador met Cuba’s deputy health minister to discuss expanding bilateral work in medical, pharmaceutical and humanitarian areas, including joint medicine and raw-material supplies. Public Health Context: As the centenary unfolds, Cuba’s health system remains a recurring focus in coverage—posters in hospitals and renewed attention to education and public health policies tied to the revolution’s legacy.

Political Prisoners: Prisoners Defenders says Cuba hit a new record in July, with 1,327 people jailed for political reasons, including a 13-year-old allegedly beaten after protests in Havana. Healthcare & Fraud: A Miami federal jury convicted Cuban national Tania Rosa Rodríguez of hiding her role in a $4.6M healthcare fraud scheme to obtain U.S. citizenship. Power Crisis & Health Workers: A young Cuban cardiology resident marked her 26th birthday describing “only 2 hours of electricity,” water and internet problems, and burnout from practicing medicine amid Cuba’s shortages. Energy Resilience: Cuba’s Holguín solar park (5 MW with battery storage) is now feeding the grid, while the U.S. Embassy warns hurricanes could worsen Cuba’s fragile electricity system. Community Support: A Holguín private company says it helps retirees collect pensions and delivers payments to the ill, including support for an oncology ward renovation. Public Health Context: Cuba rejected U.S. claims linking it to human trafficking networks, calling it a slanderous campaign tied to the blockade. Disaster Relief: A Miami benefit concert will raise funds for earthquake victims in Venezuela and Colombia, including mental health support.

Healthcare & Justice: A Miami federal jury convicted Cuban national Tania Rosa Rodriguez, 57, of fraudulently obtaining U.S. citizenship by hiding her role in a $4.6M healthcare fraud conspiracy during naturalization; she faces up to 10 years. Energy & Daily Health: Cuba’s first fast solar charging station opened near the National Highway outside the national grid, offering power for phones, fans, and lamps as blackouts stretch beyond 20 hours. Mental Health Under Strain: Reporting highlights rising stress and worsening mental health in Cuba, including warnings of increased suicidal behavior among teenagers in Havana amid shortages and long outages. Sanctions Impact on Care: Cuba’s ambassador to South Africa urged lawmakers to mobilize international pressure to end U.S. sanctions, citing fuel shortages, power cuts, and a sharp drop in basic medicine supply alongside rising infant mortality. Health Workers Recognized: In Camagüey and Guantánamo, Cuba honored long-serving health professionals and union members, including awards tied to hospital sterilization and teaching/medical assistance. Fidel Centenary, Global Solidarity: Multiple tributes and events mark Fidel Castro’s 100th birthday, repeatedly linking Cuba’s internationalist healthcare legacy to today’s pressure on the island.