Even the state-controlled media can no longer ignore the harrowing reality faced by Cubans, as they begin to reveal the daily struggles of fever, hunger, and power outages. An impactful photo essay by photographer Raúl Navarro, titled "The Illness We Suffer," showcasing the heart-wrenching conditions endured by the residents of Matanzas, has unexpectedly made its way onto the pages of the local official newspaper, Girón.
This report goes beyond mere imagery, including photos of sick children, mosquito bites, overflowing trash, and people with faces marked by despair. Accompanying these images is a narrative that vividly describes the dire circumstances currently afflicting Matanzas.
"You've lost your appetite, shed weight, lost strength in your hands and legs, and the excruciating pain makes you not want to get out of bed, even though the sheets no longer smell clean but of the last fever you sweated out, the stale price of a blister pack of paracetamol, mixed with the scent of the burnt spiral and the $10 repellent spray you doused your child with, hoping—dear God!—that no mosquito would infect them," reads this account, highlighting a collective reality of epidemic and poverty.
The narrative continues, "In the end, spending all your savings or going into debt until the next payday or remittance proves futile. Your child gets sick too. Thus, you realize that when the disease has spread this far, it's just a matter of luck if someone escapes unharmed."
The photo essay emerges amidst a severe epidemiological situation in the province, with concurrent outbreaks of dengue, chikungunya, and the Oropouche virus. This public health crisis has yet to be officially acknowledged by the Ministry of Public Health as "combined arboviruses," despite the available medical and scientific evidence.
In this context, the article in Girón joins the growing criticism of the authorities for their sluggish response and inefficiency in addressing and recognizing the health crisis. "You no longer know how many days you've, your spouse, or your mother-in-law have had symptoms, whether it's dengue, oropouche, or chikungunya, or when the aftereffects will fade, or how many minutes have passed since you got out of bed, or where it all started, or when the authorities knew, or why they took so long to act, or if they acted quickly and efficiently and you just didn't find out because you don't watch the news due to power outages, nor have internet until the month ends to make the next recharge," the report states.
"This illness we suffer leaves an unbearably bitter metallic taste in the mouth," it concludes.
Since July, infections in Matanzas have surged, with several municipalities identified as affected areas. While local authorities acknowledge the spread of dengue and chikungunya, they have officially denied any deaths linked to the outbreaks, maintaining institutional silence about specific diagnoses.
The challenges extend to healthcare as well. At Cárdenas Hospital, patients and their families have reported having to purchase their own reagents and medications due to a lack of supplies, despite denials from the provincial health system.
Understanding the Health Crisis in Matanzas
What diseases are currently affecting Matanzas?
Matanzas is currently experiencing outbreaks of dengue, chikungunya, and the Oropouche virus.
How have local authorities responded to the health crisis?
Local authorities have acknowledged the spread of dengue and chikungunya but have denied any deaths associated with the outbreaks. The response has been criticized for being slow and inefficient.
What challenges do residents face in accessing healthcare?
Residents face challenges such as having to purchase their own reagents and medications due to the scarcity of supplies at hospitals like Cárdenas Hospital.