Expectant mothers at the Orlando Pantoja Tamayo General Hospital in Contramaestre, Santiago de Cuba, are reportedly being compelled to carry buckets of water up and down stairs. This troubling situation arises from the hospital's lack of functioning basic services, as highlighted in a Facebook post this Saturday.
"This is a hospital of torment. Pregnant women are forced to haul their buckets of water, up the stairs, down the stairs, amidst society and misery. The best exercise for delivery. No contractions, no struggles, no tourniquets. Just carry your little bucket of water until you reach 40 weeks," described Yois Ramos with bitter irony in the post.
Photographs accompanying the complaint depict women in patient gowns handling buckets in the hospital corridors. The images also reveal bathrooms in extreme disrepair, with toilets filled with reddish-brown water, damp and filthy floors, walls marred by mold and chronic moisture stains, and areas littered with accumulated garbage.
Recurrent Complaints Highlight Widespread Neglect
This is not the first time serious allegations have been made against this hospital. Back in December 2025, social media images exposed destroyed bathrooms, maggots, cockroaches, rats, and a lack of essential supplies like medicines, food, water, stretchers, and ambulances at the facility.
In April, further accusations surfaced about the Pantoja Tamayo Hospital, showing the Intensive Care Unit with overflowing toilets, floors flooded with unidentified liquids, and scattered garbage and rotten boxes.
Public Outrage Against Official Narrative
The public reaction in the comments section was one of widespread indignation. Many users dismissed the official narrative that blames the U.S. embargo for these issues.
"That's just shamelessness because they can't say it's the embargo, total nonsense," commented one individual. Another was more direct about internal management: "Shame is what they lack; they should pay a decent salary to the cleaning staff to maintain the hospital's cleanliness. What is the director doing, just stealing?"
A third comment encapsulated the general sentiment: "Going there only makes you sicker because the mess, the filth, and the lack of hygiene make people even more ill."
Systemic Health Deterioration Across Cuba
The situation in Contramaestre is part of a broader pattern of healthcare deterioration affecting hospitals throughout the island. In August, Havana's William Soler Pediatric Hospital was also criticized for neglected bathrooms and service areas cluttered with debris.
Similarly, the pediatric hospital in Cienfuegos has been dealing with a sewage leak that has been flooding the emergency ramp for months.
At the Juan Bruno Zayas Hospital in Santiago de Cuba, also in August, a rat nest was discovered in the Perinatology Ward, an area designated for pregnant women and high-risk obstetric patients.
Pregnant Women: A Vulnerable Group in Crisis
Expecting mothers are among the most vulnerable in this crisis. In February, the Ministry of Public Health reported that 32,880 pregnant women were facing additional risks due to fuel shortages, directly impacting ultrasounds and emergency transfers.
This Friday, the United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef) announced the dispatch of 213,000 bottles of prenatal supplements to Cuba, underscoring the ongoing scarcity of resources for pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers that the Cuban healthcare system can no longer adequately provide.
Understanding the Health Crisis in Cuban Hospitals
Why are pregnant women carrying water at the Contramaestre Hospital?
Due to the hospital's lack of basic services, including water supply, pregnant women are forced to carry buckets of water up and down stairs.
What other issues have been reported at the Orlando Pantoja Tamayo Hospital?
Reports have highlighted destroyed bathrooms, infestations of insects and rodents, and shortages of medical supplies, food, and water.
Is the healthcare crisis limited to Contramaestre?
No, the healthcare crisis is widespread across Cuba, affecting various hospitals with similar issues of neglect and resource scarcity.