HAVANA, Cuba. – Activist Yoel Parsons Bones, member of the Patriotic Union of Cuba (UNPACU)made a call this Monday to save the life of his cousin, opposition member Maikel Herrera Bones, whose health has deteriorated “notably” in recent weeks. Parsons Bones advocated for the granting of a humanitarian visa to his family member, who could receive medical assistance in a foreign country, he said.
Herrera Bones has been a carrier of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) since 2012. In addition, about three months ago he was infected with Oropouche fevera disease on the rise on the Island that weakened their general state of health.
According to Parsons Bones, for about three months his cousin has been treated at the Pedro Kourí Institute of Tropical Medicine (IPK) in Havana, where they have performed medical tests “but they don’t understand why he has been going more and more every day.” back”.
“He has become thin, he has lost the desire to eat, he has lost his voice; That is why with your support I am requesting a humanitarian visa,” said the activist in statements offered to CubaNet.
“I request it because I believe that the attention in Cuba – even though they have made efforts here in the IPK and have carried out tests – is insufficient,” added the activist.
As Parsons Bones described, his cousin has lost “a lot” of mental capacity. “Many times he doesn’t remember the things they talk to him about and becomes incoherent,” he said. “I am sure that in a developed country there are more alternatives and they can help you, that they can improve your health,” said the activist.
Herrera Bones suffered seven months of provisional imprisonment in the Mayabeque penitentiary center (the so-called “Güines AIDS Prison”), for the alleged crime of “attack” and was released in mid-November 2020 following a campaign for his release.
On that date (October 14, 2020), the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) issued precautionary protection measures in favor of Herrera Bones, since he considered that he was in “a serious and urgent situation of risk of irreparable damage to his rights.”
