In a desperate attempt to eradicate a bedbug infestation, a nurse from Santiago de Cuba's Provincial Hospital resorted to setting a chair on fire. This drastic measure, captured on video and now circulating across social media, starkly illustrates the dire sanitary conditions plaguing Cuban healthcare facilities.
The footage, shared by independent journalist Yosmany Mayeta Labrada, depicts hospital staff deliberating over how to tackle the pests with limited resources: direct fire on the furniture and a homemade concoction of baking soda and vinegar.
"Set the chair on fire. Don't let that pest escape," one worker is heard saying as she applies the flame.
Another staff member outlines her improvised plan for the next shift: "I'll bring my mix—baking soda and other things. I'll turn the chair over and douse it with that."
She adds about the mixture: "It eliminates them, suffocates them because the smell is unbearable. And it burns. Baking soda with acetic acid, which is vinegar."
Desperate Measures Amidst Health System Collapse
The lack of professional pest control and proper products forces healthcare workers to invent methods that would be unthinkable in any functional health system. For years, Santiago de Cuba's Saturnino Lora Provincial Hospital—the area's main health facility—has faced similar complaints.
In January 2025, bedbugs and cockroaches were rampant on patient beds; by November, images of its bathrooms revealed leaks, broken pipes, mold, and accumulated waste. In April 2026, a fire in the intermediate care area forced the evacuation of 12 patients.
The Juan Bruno Zayas Alfonso Hospital, also in Santiago, is not immune to the crisis. In January 2026, sewage was reported flowing under patient beds, and by July, new footage exposed rusted, lidless toilets and medical waste improperly handled without any safety protocols.
Nationwide Infestation Challenges
The bedbug issue extends beyond Santiago. In June, the Maternity Hospital in Matanzas faced accusations of an infestation threatening pregnant women and newborns. In July, a mother recorded cockroaches at Havana's Juan Manuel Márquez Pediatric Hospital, in a video that garnered over 72,000 views. Authorities in Antilla, Holguín, admitted in April that the infestation had been a nationwide problem for at least two years.
Underlying these issues is a healthcare system in freefall: only 30% of essential medications are available, with 461 out of 651 drugs out of stock. Infant mortality has more than doubled since 2018, rising from 4.0 to 9.9 per 1,000 live births. Hospitals also endure blackouts lasting up to 20 hours daily, jeopardizing intensive care units and the preservation of medicines.
In this context, both healthcare workers and patients' families resort to makeshift solutions using fire, baking soda, and vinegar due to the State's failure to provide even the most basic supplies necessary for maintaining minimal hygiene standards.
A viral comment succinctly captured the sentiment: "Cubans have been normalizing everything for 67 years. How much longer?"
Understanding the Healthcare Crisis in Cuba
What led to the desperate measures taken by the nurse in Santiago de Cuba?
The severe lack of professional pest control services and adequate products forced the nurse to resort to using fire as a last resort against the bedbug infestation.
How widespread is the bedbug problem in Cuban hospitals?
The bedbug issue is not limited to Santiago, with reports of infestations affecting hospitals across the nation, including facilities in Matanzas and Havana.
What are the broader implications of the healthcare crisis in Cuba?
The healthcare crisis is characterized by a critical shortage of medications, rising infant mortality rates, and frequent power outages, all of which severely impact hospital operations and patient care.