It all started with a severe headache that had lasted for several days. Then, on Friday evening, he fell ill and lost consciousness, resulting in his transfer to the hospital in Santa Clara, Cuba . There, after several hours, he awoke , spoke with the doctors, and the doctors decided to transfer him to another hospital for further tests.
Alessandro Di Battista, who turned 48 on August 4th, a former Five Star Movement MP, arrived lucid yesterday evening after a four-hour journey (about 300 km on difficult roads) at the Hermanos Ameijeiras Hospital in Havana , where he was able to answer various questions from medical staff, nurses, and doctors. Arrived on a stretcher, the former MP is now admitted to the 19th floor. Doctors immediately measured his vital signs, performed a CT scan, and are conducting further specialist checks. A short comment from him also appeared on Instagram overnight, responding to a post by Ilaria Loquenzi, a communications specialist and former Five Star Movement staffer: " I'll do my best to come back soon ."
His situation is being constantly monitored by the Italian Embassy in Cuba , with the government guaranteeing "maximum attention" to his case. His wife, Sahra Lahouasnia, has already left Rome to join him.
The Hermanos Almeijeras Hospital is the best-equipped local hospital, but like all other healthcare facilities on the island, it suffers from serious shortages caused by the US embargo. Italy has already provided a medical flight for his repatriation, but this will only be possible once his condition permits: "It is necessary to verify that the patient's condition allows it and that transportation does not pose a risk to his health," sources at Palazzo Chigi explained yesterday. Yesterday, before the specialist tests, Cuban doctors had advised against such a long journey.
Di Battista was on the island to produce a report for Il Fatto Quotidiano.
(Unioneonline/vl)