Cuba is grappling with one of its most severe health crises in recent years, while the Ministry of Public Health (MINSAP) attempts to portray a facade of control, contradicting the grave statistics shared on national television this Tuesday.
Vice Minister Carilda Peña García revealed that nine children are in critical condition due to arboviral infections—primarily chikungunya and dengue—in a scenario characterized by hospital overcrowding, a lack of essential supplies, and an increasing number of patients across the nation.
Despite these challenges, Peña García maintained an optimistic tone, describing the progress of critically ill patients as "positive," even though 71 individuals remain in serious or critical condition, including the nine minors reported.
She stated that these children are "critically stable" and "should not have a life-threatening condition," a claim difficult to uphold given the context of repeated reports from healthcare workers and patient families about basic resource shortages.
The official noted that on Monday, 2,069 patients were treated for febrile syndrome, about a thousand fewer than the previous day.
However, this decrease appears to be more related to the healthcare system's inability to accommodate all patients rather than an epidemiological improvement. The widespread practice of home admissions, a measure that eases hospital pressure but leaves thousands without proper medical supervision, seems to be the contributing factor.
Ongoing Epidemic Amidst a Collapsing Healthcare System
Although Peña assured that Cuba might be entering a "control phase" regarding arboviruses, her own figures suggest otherwise: 324 new suspected chikungunya cases were confirmed in the last day, with higher incidence rates in Cienfuegos, Pinar del Río, Santiago de Cuba, Ciego de Ávila, and Granma.
The country has accumulated 42,339 reported cases, of which only 1,462 have been confirmed through PCR testing, highlighting the system's limitations in precise diagnosis.
Just a day after the regime updated the official death toll from arboviral diseases to 44, mostly linked to chikungunya, Peña's appearance took place. Among these, eight were minors, a recognition coming after weeks of delayed reports and previous denials of severe cases in various provinces.
Transparency Issues and Public Skepticism
The reported figures are widely questioned by both the public and healthcare professionals in a country where information transparency is virtually nonexistent.
Families and medical staff have warned about unrecorded deaths, patients not receiving timely care, and uncontrolled outbreaks in neighborhoods that haven't seen an anti-vector campaign for months.
Despite this, the vice minister indirectly blamed citizens, urging them to strengthen "self-checks" in homes and report irregularities in fumigations, while avoiding discussions on the shortage of insecticides, fuel, or technical personnel—issues pointed out by brigades in various provinces.
The epidemic unfolds at a time when Cuban hospitals face a profound structural crisis, with wards lacking drinking water, shortages of painkillers and antibiotics, bed deficits, laboratories without reagents, and staff shortages due to the mass migration of doctors and nurses.
Polyclinics apply strict criteria for testing, many centers can only provide clinical diagnoses, and thousands of families resort to treating their children's fevers with home remedies amid a lack of medication.
Weeks of Denial and Delayed Recognition
Since October, MINSAP has gradually acknowledged deaths from dengue and chikungunya, following weeks of institutional silence. Initially, there were three fatalities reported, then 33, and now 44. With each update, the gap between official reports and citizen complaints widens.
Meanwhile, the epidemic continues to claim lives, hitting children and pregnant women hardest, exposing the fragility of a healthcare system that was long touted as a triumph of the Cuban model but now struggles to stay afloat.
Peña's statement, far from offering reassurance, underscores a growing health crisis in a country where the populace feels increasingly abandoned and unprotected.
Cuba's Health Crisis and Arboviral Infections
What are the main arboviral infections affecting Cuba currently?
The primary arboviral infections currently affecting Cuba are chikungunya and dengue.
How many children are in critical condition due to these infections?
Nine children are reported to be in critical condition due to arboviral infections in Cuba.
What challenges does the Cuban healthcare system face amid the epidemic?
The Cuban healthcare system faces numerous challenges, including hospital overcrowding, shortages of medical supplies, and a lack of resources for proper diagnosis and treatment.
What measures are being urged by the Cuban government to control the epidemic?
The government is urging citizens to enhance self-monitoring in homes and report any irregularities in fumigation processes.