Mothers and Newborns Endure Cockroach Infestation in Santiago de Cuba Hospital

Recent allegations about the dire state of healthcare in Santiago de Cuba have sparked outrage both on the island and internationally.

Independent journalist Yosmany Mayeta Labrada has shared disturbing evidence of a severe cockroach infestation in the bathroom of the maternity ward at the Juan Bruno Zayas Clinical-Surgical Hospital, a key healthcare facility in the region.

Photographs and video footage depict walls, doors, corners, and areas around the toilet teeming with insects in a space that should adhere to strict hygiene standards, especially since it serves women who have just given birth.

According to Mayeta, who posted about the issue on Facebook, this is more than a mere cleaning problem; it poses a significant health risk.

The Health Hazards of Hospital Neglect

The overwhelming presence of cockroaches, combined with accumulated dirt, visible moisture, and the apparent neglect of the facility, places new mothers and their infants at risk of infections during a time when they are particularly vulnerable.

The video accompanying the report was recorded by the husband of a patient. In the footage, the man uses his phone to survey the hospital bathroom, capturing cockroaches crawling freely on the walls and floor, as well as a toilet in deplorable condition.

“Do you think a woman who has just given birth can stay here? Look at the number of cockroaches... and they're everywhere, in the ward too. My wife is admitted here, and I'm taking her out tomorrow because this is unbearable,” he expressed angrily.

Demand for Immediate Action

Mayeta emphasized that childbirth should not become a survival ordeal, nor involve exposure to pests and institutional neglect. He openly criticized the lack of action from hospital management and health authorities, demanding immediate fumigation, thorough cleaning, and administrative accountability.

“The images speak for themselves. Who is responsible for this?” he concluded.

This incident is not isolated. The Juan Bruno Zayas Clinical-Surgical Hospital has faced repeated complaints about unsanitary conditions and deterioration.

In November, patient families raised alarms about the critical state of Ward 5D, designated for chronic illness patients, reporting broken and dirty toilets, uncleaned bathtubs, damaged pipes emitting foul odors, flooded hallways, and accumulated trash.

Ongoing Concerns in Maternal Care

A family member previously summarized the situation with a stark comment: “Using the bathroom is a challenge... it shouldn't be this way for a patient.”

Earlier, in May 2023, a pregnant woman named Yendis Martínez Aroche, aged 26, publicly criticized the poor conditions and treatment she received during her maternity admission at the same hospital.

She recounted waiting hours without being transferred to the ward or receiving food, only to find a setting she described as “more of a dump than a hospital.”

“The cockroaches want to carry you away, the bathrooms are shameful... and why continue, if no matter where you complain, this will persist and worsen,” she wrote.

The latest complaint from the maternity ward confirms that rather than improving, the deterioration continues and even worsens, particularly in such crucial areas as maternal care.

Without official responses or visible actions, the complaints keep mounting, exposing a reality that directly impacts women and newborns during one of the most critical and sensitive times of their lives.