Cuba: Sister of pitcher Héctor Mendoza dies due to hospital medical shortages

María Luisa Mendoza, the 27-year-old sister of Cuban pitcher Héctor Mendoza, died at the ‘Héroes del Baire’ municipal hospital in Nueva Gerona, Isla de la Juventud, after suffering from severe dengue hemorrhagic fever.

Reports indicate the hospital lacked the intravenous (IV) fluids essential for treating the condition. According to sources, Mendoza arrived dehydrated, and while her family left to source medical supplies, she suffered cardiac arrest and passed away. Government and health officials in Isla de la Juventud have not issued formal statements regarding the death.

The incident highlights a broader crisis within Cuba’s healthcare system. Recent data suggests significant shortages of essential medications and medical supplies, including antibiotics and IV fluids. This medical scarcity coincides with a surge in dengue and chikungunya cases across the country, driven by environmental conditions favorable to mosquito proliferation.