Recent photographs from the provincial hospital in Ciego de Ávila have highlighted the neglect and unsanitary conditions of the restrooms in the pregnant women's ward. These images, shared by journalist José Luis Tan Estrada on Facebook, expose unflushed toilets, filthy paper, and trash piling up in the area designated for expectant mothers.
"Here's the state of the bathrooms in the maternity ward," Tan Estrada wrote, pointing out the structural issues and lack of governmental attention that exacerbate the hospital's sanitary problems. Comments from users express both anger and resignation about the deterioration of Cuba's hospital system. "It's like this all over Cuba," one user remarked.
Others reminisced about a time when the hospital symbolized cleanliness and care. "I had my daughter there. It used to be super clean with excellent care... I never saw a dirty bathroom or filthy ward. But that was nearly 23 years ago," commented Guelmi Abdul.
However, some pointed out the role of patients and their companions in maintaining hygiene. "Often there's water, but the companions are responsible for leaving the bathrooms in such a state," Lourdes Magaña noted.
"Communism equals poverty, destruction, theft, and death. Wake up, people," wrote another user, while several agreed that these sanitary issues reflect the collapse of the healthcare system and the neglect by the Ministry of Public Health. "The hidden face of Cuban public health: it markets itself as a medical powerhouse but doesn't even have doctors for its people anymore," criticized Armando Bouzon.
Meanwhile, heavy rains on October 9 caused severe sewage flooding at the Coco and Rabí Clinic, also known as Clínica Acción Médica, in the Diez de Octubre municipality of Havana. Videos shared by activist Orlando Ramírez Cutiño showed dirty, dark water with a strong odor flooding the center's wards while patients remained inside.
Earlier, families had reported that the centralized air system in a cubicle of the intermediate therapy unit at the pediatric hospital in Camagüey was filled with dust, causing colds and respiratory issues for children admitted for other conditions.
These incidents are occurring amid a rising wave of arboviral diseases, hepatitis, and gastrointestinal illnesses affecting the entire country. Recently, it was revealed that the "Salvador Allende" clinical surgical hospital, known locally as La Covadonga, might partially shut down its usual services due to the surge in dengue and chikungunya cases in Havana.
Concerns Over Cuba's Healthcare System
What issues were highlighted at the Ciego de Ávila hospital?
The hospital's pregnant women's ward restrooms are in unsanitary conditions, with unflushed toilets, dirty paper, and trash accumulation, highlighting structural problems and lack of governmental care.
How did users react to the hospital's restroom conditions?
Users expressed outrage and resignation over the state of the healthcare system, with some reminiscing about past cleanliness and others blaming companions for poor maintenance.
What other healthcare issues were reported in Cuba?
Reports of severe sewage flooding in a Havana clinic and dust-filled air systems causing respiratory issues in Camagüey highlight broader systemic healthcare challenges in Cuba.