Luisa María Alcalde, national leader of Morena, announced the start of a national campaign to collect humanitarian aid for Cuba, focused on medications, including chemotherapy drugs, food, medical equipment, and personal hygiene items. Alcalde emphasized that “Mexican humanism is also solidarity and fraternity between peoples,” and that the initiative aims to mobilize both citizens and civil society organizations to address urgent needs on the island. The list sent by the Cuban embassy includes over 100 medications, ranging from basic drugs to high-complexity treatments. Oncology drugs such as cisplatin, doxorubicin, paclitaxel, and methotrexate are highlighted, as their shipment could save lives in a hospital system facing supply and specialized equipment limitations. Similarly, immunoglobulins and critical medications like heparin and meropenem, used in intensive care and surgeries, are required. Among the antihypertensives like lisinopril, captopril, and atenolol, diuretics and beta-blockers are included, which are essential for controlling blood pressure in chronic patients. The list also includes broad-spectrum antibiotics such as azithromycin, cephalexin, and ciprofloxacin, fundamental for respiratory, urinary, and gastrointestinal infections. Furthermore, the shipment of medical supplies is not limited to drugs, as the campaign includes neonatal and pediatric ventilators, high-resolution ultrasounds, cardiac monitors, and anesthesia equipment. These devices are vital for hospitals that handle emergencies, deliveries, and complex surgeries. On the other hand, catheters, trocars, and other minor supplies guarantee basic clinical procedures, often impossible to perform due to the scarcity of these materials on the island. Likewise, in the food aid section, grains, legumes, dry pasta, powdered milk, and packaged cereals are prioritized, foods that can be stored and cover essential nutritional needs. The request and eventual shipment of infant formulas and purees, which are critical for the most vulnerable population such as babies and young children whose development depends on the availability of these products, is also considered. Additionally, the campaign includes ready-to-eat foods like cookies and fruit purees that can be distributed in emergency or scarcity situations. The list published by Morena also highlights the importance of personal hygiene items, which include diapers, wet wipes, sanitary napkins, menstrual cups, toothbrushes, among others. Also, lanterns and solar lamps are contemplated, basic tools for home repairs. Finally, the campaign emphasizes that all products must be new, sealed, and easy to transport, avoiding glass containers. According to Morena, the initiative seeks to consolidate a model of coordinated and responsible solidarity, in which Mexican citizenship can contribute to the well-being of the Cuban population in a context marked by scarcity and logistical limitations. Medications and cancer treatment in Mexico Recently, Mexico and other countries reduced their oil shipments to Cuba due to U.S. pressure, which aggravated the scarcity of medications, food, and basic supplies on the island. Meanwhile, on January 26 of this year, Héctor Raúl Pérez Gómez, Secretary of Health of Jalisco, recognized that the federal government had only supplied about 10% of the oncological medications needed for the entity, despite the complete list of codes being delivered since the end of 2025. Civil organizations like Nariz Roja and state authorities alerted about a shortage of at least 20 essential oncological medications, such as cisplatin, paclitaxel, and bleomycin, forcing patients to buy them on their own due to lack of federal supply. Family members of patients have carried out protests in different cities of the country to demand treatments and timely supply of oncological medications from state and federal governments.
