An enormous makeshift dump has taken shape near the Hermanos Ameijeiras Hospital, a prominent healthcare facility in Havana. This situation was highlighted in a recent video by Cuban content creator Eddy Ceballos, known for his satirical series, Despingovery Channel.
The footage captured by the comedian reveals heaps of solid waste, debris, and domestic garbage amassed in the open street, right at the hospital's doorstep. Ceballos, with his signature documentary-like narration, sarcastically refers to the site as an "open-air microbiology lab."
Ceballos describes the area as an "incubator of pathogens," which, far from being a scientific zone, poses a health hazard to patients, healthcare workers, and local residents. The rubble includes wood scraps, plastics, rusted metals, mattresses, and decomposing refuse, creating an unsanitary scene starkly contrasting with the hospital's formidable façade, which was inaugurated in 1982 and has long stood as a symbol of public health in Cuba.
This event is part of the viral series Despingovery Channel, where Ceballos humorously transforms Havana's urban issues into so-called "natural wonders" narrated with dark humor. In previous episodes, the comedian has depicted potholes, architectural ruins, and debris, whimsically termed as "despingological treasures."
Garbage accumulation in Havana has been a persistent complaint among residents, exacerbated by the lack of collection equipment, fuel, and municipal management. However, the outcry gains more weight when occurring in front of a medical center that should maintain basic hygiene standards.
The video, which has already gained widespread attention on social media, combines satire with social commentary, highlighting the urban deterioration and health risks facing Cuba's capital.
Contrasting Celebrations and Health Realities
While piles of trash mount outside the Hermanos Ameijeiras Hospital, the institution recently celebrated the 99th anniversary of dictator Fidel Castro's birth with a ceremony in its Otolaryngology Service, lauding him as the architect of the so-called "excellent medicine" that allegedly characterizes the Island today.
On social media, the hospital shared a message crediting Castro with a "humanist legacy" and urged honoring his "eternal call to serve with love and dedication." These pronouncements starkly contrast with the everyday reality faced by patients and doctors in Cuba, where there are numerous complaints about the scarcity of medications, basic supplies, and hygienic conditions.
Health Minister José Ángel Portal Miranda acknowledged in July before the National Assembly deputies that the healthcare system is undergoing an unprecedented structural crisis, with only 30% of the basic medication list covered and widespread hospital deterioration.
In this context, the Ameijeiras' rhetoric aligns with the regime's propaganda strategy to glorify Fidel Castro during commemorations while overlooking the collapse of public health in the island, where patients must bring their own sutures and antibiotics for surgeries and constantly face the threat of hospital-acquired infections.
Widespread Health Crisis: Cuban Hospitals Surrounded by Waste and Filth
The situation at Hermanos Ameijeiras Hospital is not isolated. In recent weeks, reports of waste accumulation and lack of hygiene at medical facilities across various provinces have multiplied.
In Güines, Mayabeque, residents reported that garbage went uncollected for nearly a month at the Manuel Piti Fajardo Maternal and Child Hospital. Social media images showed overflowing bins around the center, posing a direct risk to mothers and newborns.
A similar scenario was documented in Holguín in March 2022, where citizens denounced a massive dump alongside the Provincial Hospital. Pressure from social media forced state trucks to remove some waste, though the practice of accumulating garbage in urban spaces remains common.
Even pediatric hospitals, such as Pedro Borrás in Havana, have faced complaints of being surrounded by mountains of trash and stench seeping into wards, endangering hospitalized children.
Activists warn that these conditions facilitate the spread of epidemics like dengue, leptospirosis, and other diseases the regime attempts to conceal. These incidents reflect a widespread health crisis where, beyond official propaganda, the reality in Cuban hospitals is one of neglect, unsanitary conditions, and constant danger for patients and medical staff.
Frequently Asked Questions about Havana's Public Health Crisis
What is the current state of public health facilities in Havana?
Public health facilities in Havana, including the Hermanos Ameijeiras Hospital, are experiencing severe challenges with waste accumulation and lack of hygiene, posing significant health risks.
Why is there a garbage crisis around hospitals in Cuba?
The garbage crisis is largely due to a lack of collection equipment, insufficient fuel, and poor municipal management, exacerbating the already dire conditions surrounding medical facilities.