Independent journalist José L. Tan Estrada exposed the dire conditions faced by pregnant women at the Maternity Hospital in Camagüey through a Facebook post. According to Tan Estrada, expectant mothers are left waiting in a corridor of Ward A, lacking privacy, cleanliness, and even space for a fan amidst the sweltering heat.
"In Ward A of the Maternity Hospital in Camagüey, pregnant women are lying in a hallway, waiting to give birth without the most basic necessities. No privacy, no hygiene, no respect. An improvised bed is all they have, with no room to even place a fan in the oppressive heat," Tan Estrada wrote, using the hashtag #TanteandoCuba.
The accompanying images highlight the appalling conditions: metal hospital beds with worn-out mattresses line the corridors, with patients sitting alongside their personal belongings, and a single standing fan providing minimal relief from the high temperatures.
Based in Camagüey, the journalist labeled the situation as negligence and directly challenged the official narrative: "Is this how lives are cared for? Is this how a system that boasts of 'medical prowess' treats mothers and unborn children?"
Recurring Patterns Across the Nation
This incident is not an isolated one. Back in August 2022, pregnant women at the Clodomira Acosta Maternal Home in Camagüey were forced to sleep on the floor during long power outages. By May 2023, the same facility faced water shortages, insufficient food, and a lack of medicine, compelling residents to bathe with rainwater.
In August 2025, negligence at a Camagüey hospital resulted in the tragic death of a newborn, adding to the province's documented decline.
The scenario is repeated nationwide. In January 2025, a woman gave birth in a hallway at the Celia Sánchez Maternity Hospital in Bayamo without available doctors or basic medications. Cuban mothers are increasingly fearful of bringing children into a crumbling system.
Health System on the Brink of Collapse
Even the Minister of Public Health, José Ángel Portal Miranda, acknowledged in February 2026 that the Cuban healthcare system is nearing collapse.
Power outages lasting up to twenty hours a day have crippled medical equipment and operating rooms. Only 30% of essential medications are available. As of April 11, 2026, there were 96,387 surgeries pending in Cuba, including more than 11,000 involving children. Over 32,000 pregnant women are at risk due to power cuts.
Tan Estrada, who also brought attention in April to contaminated water in the Camagüey aqueduct and waste near operating rooms at the Provincial Hospital, is part of an independent journalism network documenting what the official press refuses to cover.
"While empty speeches are repeated, the harsh reality strikes without embellishment: women forced to give birth under undignified conditions, as if their pain and lives don't matter. This cannot continue to be normalized. It has a name: negligence. And there are those responsible," the journalist concluded.
Challenges Facing Pregnant Women in Cuba
What are the main issues pregnant women face at the Camagüey Maternity Hospital?
Pregnant women at the Camagüey Maternity Hospital face overcrowding, lack of privacy, poor hygiene, and inadequate facilities, including insufficient space for cooling appliances like fans.
How is the healthcare system in Cuba affecting pregnant women?
The Cuban healthcare system is nearing collapse, with frequent power outages and shortages of essential medications, putting pregnant women at significant risk during childbirth.
What has the Cuban government acknowledged regarding the healthcare system?
The Cuban Minister of Public Health has admitted that the healthcare system is on the verge of collapse, with critical shortages and operational challenges.