Crime has once again targeted a medical clinic in Santiago de Cuba, where thieves made off with equipment and supplies on Thursday, just over a month after the last burglary. Residents informed journalist Yosmany Mayeta Labrada that the No. 2 Clinic of the Frank País Polyclinic, located on H Street between 4th and 5th in the Agüero neighborhood, was "once again raided by thieves."
The intruders broke in by cutting the lock on the door and stole a children's scale, medical forceps, and other supplies yet to be fully accounted for, Mayeta reported on social media. He noted that just weeks earlier, thieves had taken three doors from the medical center, and "now they've returned to steal healthcare workers' tools."
During the previous incident, which occurred in the early hours of August 31, the community notified the police, who responded that they would arrive "in the morning," sparking outrage among residents who feel defenseless amid rising crime and ineffective law enforcement.
"The clinic is in shambles, and what little was left is being taken bit by bit," lamented a local resident following the latest theft. Mayeta highlighted that "these repeated incidents underscore the severe insecurity faced by public health centers in Santiago de Cuba, which lack stable security and resources to ensure their protection."
"While the people lose faith and doctors are deprived of their tools, the thieves continue to gain ground," he criticized. "The theft is not just from the clinic... it's a theft of people's right to be treated with dignity."
Less than a week after the Agüero clinic break-in, burglars struck again at a clinic in Nuevo Vista Alegre, stealing the main door in the early morning hours. Such thefts are also common in hospitals and polyclinics, where there should be constant surveillance and security personnel.
A group of thieves ransacked and vandalized the Microbiology Laboratory at the Hospital Clínico Quirúrgico Diez de Octubre, known as La Dependiente, in Havana, resulting in the destruction of samples and reagents and the service's closure for nearly a month, affecting patient care. The police stated that similar incidents at the Hospital Clínico Quirúrgico Salvador Allende (La Covadonga) in the Cuban capital are under investigation.
The ongoing thefts at health centers highlight the vulnerability and insecurity plaguing the nation, where facilities that should be safe havens for care have become easy targets for criminals due to the lack of supervision and government inaction.
Security Challenges in Cuban Health Centers
What items were stolen from the Santiago de Cuba clinic?
Thieves took a children's scale, medical forceps, and other medical supplies from the clinic.
How have the local authorities responded to these incidents?
The police have been criticized for their slow response, as they stated they would investigate only the following morning, which has led to public dissatisfaction and a sense of insecurity.
Are similar crimes occurring elsewhere in Cuba?
Yes, similar burglaries have been reported in other hospitals and clinics, including in Havana, where a microbiology lab was vandalized.