AGP Executive Report

Sanctions and Health Care: The U.S. Treasury and State Department announced fresh sanctions targeting Fidel Ernesto Castro Calis and multiple state-linked Cuban firms, including Banco Exterior de Cuba and energy and mining companies tied to keeping the power grid running—moves that critics say worsen blackouts and restrict access to healthcare. Diplomatic Pushback: Cuba’s foreign minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla called the new measures “collective punishment,” while U.S. officials framed them as pressure on elites amid a deepening crisis. Energy Shock to Daily Care: Reports say the U.S. oil blockade and related restrictions have intensified nationwide outages, limiting transport of patients and supplies. Maternal & Child Nutrition Aid: A WFP-backed maternal and child nutrition project in Holguín received a boost, aiming to protect vulnerable families as shortages strain services. Local Health Supply Support: An NGO flotilla, Open Arms, delivered seven tons of humanitarian medical supplies to Cuba, including items meant for intensive care and obstetrics needs. Community Health Risks: In Centro Habana, police investigated the discovery of two fetuses among garbage, with authorities yet to release forensic details.

Sanctions and health access: The U.S. slapped new sanctions on five Cuban companies and Raúl Castro’s grandson, citing links to Cuba’s nickel and energy sectors; the move comes as Cuba’s power grid struggles and blackouts are said to worsen access to healthcare. Humanitarian fuel push: The Cuba Study Group urged Washington and Havana to remove barriers to humanitarian aid, including a request for a fuel exception so light fuel can reach hospitals and state medical centers. Diplomacy amid shortages: Cuba’s foreign minister, Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, told a podcast that sanctions have intensified since 2019, blocking food/medicine shipments and contributing to shortages, including claims tied to rising infant mortality. Maternal nutrition support: WFP is boosting its Nutrivida maternal and child nutrition project in Holguín, aiming to reduce anemia and improve access to diverse, nutritious foods for pregnant women and children. School-year strain: Cuba’s school reopening is described as “very difficult,” with families facing shortages of teachers, materials, uniforms, and even electricity and water—conditions that directly affect child health and wellbeing.

Cuba’s Schools Under Strain: The new school year opens amid “very difficult” conditions, with families reporting shortages of teachers, materials, uniforms, food, water and electricity—some children facing long stretches without power at home. Humanitarian Aid for Care: Open Arms returned to Havana’s Juan Manuel Márquez Pediatric Hospital with nearly seven tons of medical supplies, milk and medicines, including solar panels and portable ultrasound gear to keep critical services running. Private Sector Expansion: Cuba approved a new decree allowing Cubans living abroad to own private companies on the island, expanding business size and reach—an effort framed as reform, not “capitalism.” Tourism Hit: Visitor arrivals fell sharply in the first seven months, down nearly half year-on-year, as sanctions and fuel/flight disruptions continue to bite. Health & Safety Abroad: Reports highlight Cuba-linked medical staffing pressures in the region, including scrutiny of Cuban doctor contracts and uncertainty around medical brigade futures.

Raúl Castro Health Rumors: Cuban-born U.S. Rep. Carlos A. Gimenez amplified fresh reports that former leader Raúl Castro suffered a stroke and is in critical condition, while Cuban authorities have not publicly confirmed details. Mental Health Crisis: A Holguín family says a young woman with schizophrenia is confined in a barred room due to medication shortages and violent episodes, spotlighting gaps in care. Education Rules Update: Cuba’s MINED updated regulations for non-state education activities (child care, language classes, tutoring, shorthand, typing), including health certificates and alignment with official materials. Workplace Safety Probe: Guyana launched an investigation after a Cuban construction worker died and two others were critically injured when a scaffold rolled into live power lines. Humanitarian Aid for Hospitals: NGO Open Arms returned to Cuba with over seven tons of medical supplies and powdered milk, including hemodialysis equipment for nephrology and pediatric hospitals. Regional Health Staffing Uncertainty: Belize is exploring recruiting doctors from Honduras as uncertainty grows around the future of the Cuban Medical Brigade. Animal Care Support: Sancti Spíritus’ zoo says it has faced critical shortages feeding its lions and credits small businesses with emergency meat donations.

Raúl Castro Health Update: Miami’s Diario Las Américas reports the 95-year-old former Cuban leader is gravely ill after a stroke, with sources saying he may be on life support; Cuba’s government hasn’t confirmed. Care Access in Crisis: A social-media appeal in Camagüey says a 23-year-old pregnant woman in ICU needs urgent anticoagulant treatment for a suspected clot, highlighting how medication shortages can become life-or-death. Healthcare Under Strain: A Guantánamo resident with liver and pancreas nodules says he now survives by manually cleaning pots because he can’t afford medication—choosing between food and treatment. Workplace Safety: In Guyana, a Cuban construction worker died and two others were badly burned after scaffolding rolled into power lines, underscoring preventable injury risks for Cuban workers abroad. School Year Amid Shortages: Cuba’s 2026-27 school start proceeds despite blackouts and shortages, with officials stressing education as a protected social right. Medical Leadership: India’s Armed Forces Medical Services appoints Air Marshal Sandeep Thareja, a gastroenterologist, to lead healthcare modernization for troops and families. Cuba’s UN Pushback: Cuba’s UN ambassador criticizes U.S. sanctions while urging more private investment, arguing restrictions are blocking reforms and worsening shortages of food and medicine.

School Year Push: Cuba kicked off the 2026–2027 school year in Havana despite shortages and blackouts, with leaders citing education as “non-negotiable” and pointing to a major state budget allocation. Care Delays: A Guantánamo mother says her 9-month-old son’s needed surgery is stalled because an MRI is still pending, blaming lack of fuel for transport to Villa Clara. Sanctions & Dialogue: Cuba’s top diplomat in Washington says talks with the U.S. are at a standstill and warns that sanctions and a fuel squeeze are driving preventable harm, including rising infant mortality. Health Under Strain: A hospital in Cuba is advising stress coping during crisis conditions, as power cuts disrupt daily life. Safety & Crime: The U.S. Embassy in Havana issued a warning about a widespread rise in crime, especially vehicle-related thefts, urging extra vigilance. Human Solidarity: A viral Miami donation of 150,000 Cuban pesos helped a mother in a Cuban hospital care for her sick son, highlighting community support amid system gaps.

Humanitarian Aid & Health Access: Open Arms’ sailboat Astral arrived in Havana with 7 tons of aid, including medical supplies, powdered milk, and hemodialysis equipment for the Abelardo Buch López Nephrology Institute and Juan Manuel Márquez Pediatric Hospital. Sanctions Pressure on Care: A Cuba Study Group statement urges broad humanitarian exemptions from U.S. sanctions, warning blackouts and fuel shortages are crippling medicine, food, and relief delivery. Medical System Strain: Reports describe a hemorrhagic dengue death on the Isle of Youth after a lack of serum; the wider hospital system is said to be near collapse with major medication shortages. Food Security & Nutrition: A BBC analysis says Cuba imports about 80% of its food, while pork, rice, beans, and milk production have collapsed, leaving diets lacking in energy and diversity. Trade & Pharma Bottlenecks: Swiss firms say bank transfer problems tied to U.S. sanctions are blocking payments, with Swiss pharmaceutical exports to Cuba dropping sharply. Education & Health Workforce Spillover: The Bahamas won’t renew contracts for 31 Cuban teachers, amid ongoing negotiations involving Cuban health personnel abroad. Care for Rare Disease: A Cuban mother appeals for help to get her 7-year-old with a rare chromosomal disorder to Argentina for specialized treatment. Public Health Messaging: A Cuban hospital advises patients on stress management during blackouts and crisis conditions.

Prenatal Care Boost: UNICEF, with South Korea funding, airlifted 213,000 prenatal supplement bottles to Cuba after sea shipment was impossible, aiming to cover the full course for 30,430 pregnant and breastfeeding women. Water & Accountability: A Havana mother was detained after reporting a local official for denying water, highlighting how basic services and public complaints collide. Health Tech Progress: Cuba’s ICIMAF says it is advancing “Boneconsol,” a domestically designed ultrasonic bone-consolidation device aimed at faster recovery and fewer unnecessary hospital stays. Medical Workforce Pressure Abroad: The Bahamas won’t renew contracts for 31 Cuban teachers and keeps Cuban healthcare worker recruitment suspended amid talks with the U.S. over Cuba’s overseas labor program. Cancer Drug Development: Cuba continues work on a home-grown cancer drug candidate (2C12), moving toward human trials. Community Health & Rehab: A Cuban hospital advisory urged stress management during blackouts, while a separate report notes a Cuban influencer’s emergency-room hospitalization sparked concern among followers.

Maternal Health Aid: UNICEF says it couldn’t ship 213,000 prenatal supplement bottles to Cuba by sea, so it flew them from Panama City to Havana to reach about 30,430 pregnant and breastfeeding women, covering extra costs itself. Power & Water Safety: A Havana activist reports a transformer (“caballito”) exploding and burning after more than 20 hours of blackout, highlighting how electrical failures and outages are worsening daily stress and risk across neighborhoods. Healthcare Under Strain: Reuters reports animal shelters and vets are also hit by Cuba’s energy crisis—limited electricity disrupts feeding and makes it harder to keep vaccines and medicines properly stored. Medical Access & Rights: In Havana, a woman who posted about water truck favors says she was detained after documenting local denials, raising fresh alarms about harassment tied to basic services. International Medical Support: Italy is sending doctors to assess a seriously ill former Italian deputy hospitalized in Havana, with repatriation only possible once his condition allows. Community Health Coverage: In Mexico’s Quintana Roo, residents ask authorities to keep a Cuban doctor working weekends to cover chronic illness, pregnancy, and children.

Maternal Health Under Strain: In Contramaestre, pregnant women at Orlando Pantoja Tamayo General Hospital say they’re forced to carry buckets of water up stairs because of failing basic services, with reports of neglected bathrooms and unsafe conditions. Water & Health Risks: Drought has sharply reduced the Cauto River’s flow, leaving families in Cauto Cristo consuming saline, mud-laden water from the riverbed despite lab checks finding no viruses or bacteria. Public Health & Waste: Guantánamo remains under epidemiological alert as officials report micro and mega landfills near schools and daycares, blaming fuel shortages and weak collection capacity. School Year Crisis: An activist warns that after 30+ hours without electricity, teachers and students can’t function normally, citing missing water, food, and health services. Healthcare Policy Debate: In the U.S., Mark Cuban and Texas Senate nominee James Talarico push to break up healthcare monopolies, tying drug costs to access and affordability. Community & Faith: Cubans begin the nine-day novena for Our Lady of Charity of El Cobre, with expanded sanctuary hours and major masses leading to Sept. 8.

Water & Energy Crisis: Drought is pushing the Cauto River to historic lows, leaving families in Cauto Cristo in Granma drinking saline, muddy water pulled from the riverbed. Public Health & Safety: In Havana, prolonged blackouts are again disrupting water pumping, with officials warning nearly two million residents face an emergency as motors fail and pipes struggle. Maternal Care Under Strain: Pregnant patients at the Orlando Pantoja Tamayo General Hospital in Contramaestre are reportedly forced to carry buckets of water up stairs due to basic service failures. School-Year Stress Test: Cuban activists and parents say blackouts, lack of water, and shortages are making it hard for teachers and students to attend and learn as the Sept. 1 school start approaches. Disease & Sanitation: Guantánamo’s dengue-linked epidemiological alert is worsening as micro and mega landfills pile up near schools and daycares, with fuel shortages hampering waste collection. Health System Shock: Camagüey residents are reeling after human remains were found behind the provincial hospital’s hemodialysis unit, with no official investigation details yet.

Water & Power Health Alert: The U.S. Embassy in Havana issued a health warning as Cuba’s water distribution grows unstable alongside prolonged blackouts, saying lack of water and disrupted cold chains can threaten health and safety, urging travelers to prepare for extended interruptions. Dengue Watch: Kenya reported 1,679 dengue cases, mainly in Garissa and Wajir, with suspected deaths under investigation—an update that highlights mosquito-borne risk as the disease expands geographically. Maternal Support: UNICEF delivered 213,000 prenatal bottles to pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers in Cuba, aiming to reach about 30,430 people amid medication and supply shortages. Havana Thirst From Blackouts: A new report describes Havana residents facing water shortages as pumps fail during outages, with officials reviewing strategies and recovering motors needed to move water. Cancer Drug Progress: Cuban scientists announced a home-grown cancer drug candidate reaching development milestones despite the U.S. blockade. Food Insecurity Pressure: Reports continue to show families struggling to get by, including a Santa Clara project providing free bread and food packages to vulnerable households. Local Sanitation Hazard: Residents in Santiago de Cuba complain of weeks of sewage and garbage piling up on Moncada Street, raising health concerns for infants and elderly neighbors.

Water & Power Safety: The U.S. Embassy in Havana issued a health alert warning that Cuba’s worsening water supply and prolonged blackouts can disrupt cold chains and create serious health risks, urging travelers to prepare for extended outages. Energy Crisis Impact: Cuba’s Electric Union reported the eastern provinces were disconnected from the National Electric System after transmission fluctuations, with hospitals and pumping systems prioritized during restoration. Maternal Health Support: UNICEF delivered 213,000 prenatal supplement bottles to pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers in Cuba, using air transport via Panama due to shipping constraints. Food Insecurity Pressure: A Cuban family’s account of surviving on chicken bones and a sweet potato highlights how shortages are pushing households into extreme hardship. Stress & Coping Guidance: A Santa Clara hospital shared practical steps to manage chronic stress during blackouts and scarcity, including breathing exercises, gentle movement, sleep, and mindfulness. Cancer Research: Cuban scientists announced a home-grown cancer drug candidate, 2C12, with traits similar to pembrolizumab, as supply limits strain the biotech sector. Blocked Medical Mission Payments: Reports say a Cuban medical mission bank account in Italy has been blocked since late July, freezing transfers that doctors rely on.

Eastern Cuba Power Cuts: The National Electric System was disconnected in provinces from Holguín to Guantánamo after transmission-line fluctuations, with key power-plant units going offline and hospitals and essential services prioritized during restoration. Blockade and Energy: Cuba’s foreign minister links repeated SEN disconnections to the U.S. blockade, saying it blocks fuel, spare parts, expert collaboration, and financing needed to keep the grid running. Cancer Drug Breakthrough: Cuban scientists at the Center for Molecular Immunology say they developed 2C12, a cancer drug candidate with traits similar to pembrolizumab, aiming to strengthen homegrown oncology production amid supply shortages. Medical Mission Sanctions: Reports say a Cuban medical services commercialization account in Italy was blocked, with doctors’ transfers reportedly returned after a bank move tied to U.S. sanctions risk. School-Year Strain: Families describe children returning to classes amid blackouts, shortages, and stress, with anxiety and sleep disruption tied to long power gaps. Public Health in Focus: Holguín expands special education for the new school year, adding meals, hospital classrooms, and support for students with disabilities and complex-area needs. Food Security at the UN: Cuba told the UN Security Council that tightening the blockade worsens food crises, urging a shift from arms spending to development and action on root causes.

Cuba-US Medicines Clash: Cuba’s foreign minister denounced new U.S. restrictions on access to medicines, medical supplies, and biopharma raw materials, saying they pile onto the energy blockade and complicate cancer treatment efforts, including the Center of Molecular Immunology’s 2C12. Power & Care Strain: A second partial national power disconnection this month hit 3.4 million people in eastern provinces after transmission-line oscillations took key thermal units offline, deepening daily disruptions for hospitals and families. Cancer Drug Momentum: Cuba highlighted progress on home-grown cancer therapy 2C12 as a sign of medical sovereignty despite sanctions limiting inputs. Hospital Hygiene Access: Santiago de Cuba’s Saturnino Lora Torres teaching hospital opened an on-site hygiene store so patients and staff can buy essentials like soaps, antiseptic gels, diapers, and toiletries without leaving the facility. Energy Crisis at Home: Oncological hospital workers in Santiago reported paying $24 for a gas cylinder and waiting hours for delivery—showing how foreign-currency pricing can turn basic needs into emergencies. School Year Starts: Education Minister Naima Trujillo said 1.5 million children and teens will begin classes Sept. 1 with flexible, community-tailored schedules, including double sessions in some schools. Training Pipeline for Health: Belize’s health ministry funding news mirrors Cuba’s wider health workforce focus: $30 million over 10 years to train Belizean doctors and nurses to reduce reliance on foreign personnel.

Pediatric Oncology Breakthrough: Cuba’s home-grown cancer drug 2C12 is moving toward human trials for advanced melanoma, with study sites in Havana and Villa Clara—another sign the island is pushing forward despite shortages. School Year Readiness: Cuba’s Education Minister says 1.5 million children and adolescents will start classes Sept. 1, with “flexibility,” double sessions in some schools, and added cultural, sports, and tech activities. Dementia Hope: A U.S. family reports progress after researching NeuralCIM, a Cuban dementia drug, highlighting growing interest in Cuba’s biotech pipeline. Public Health & Safety: Cubalex reports 37 homicides in July and warns of undercounting, while a separate report describes a Placetas fire-truck crash that sent a driver to neurosurgery. Migration Tragedy: Two-year-old Cuban twins died after days adrift on a raft bound for Mexico, underscoring the health risks of dangerous sea journeys. Energy & Care Access: Guantánamo officials discuss power stability and also the legalization of medication sales in private pharmacies, aiming to ease access gaps.