In the neighborhood of Guanabacoa, Havana, a 16-year-old girl suffering from an intense toothache found relief not in a clinic, but at home, courtesy of her aunt. During a blackout, the aunt resorted to using a nail tool to remove a bandage.
The incident, captured in a video widely shared on social media, has sparked outrage among thousands, highlighting the dire state of healthcare in Cuba.
The girl's grandmother, Mariza Concepción Sarmiento, recounted that before this makeshift solution, they visited the local emergency clinic, colloquially known as "El machaco." However, the attending physician could offer no assistance for the toothache or the bandage removal due to a lack of resources.
The family left the health center with no pain relief, no treatment, and no promise of a future appointment.
"They sent her home with nothing, not even a rinse, because they claim they don't know what medication is available for a toothache or a tooth," the grandmother lamented in the video.
Desperation led the girl's aunt, Evelin Pineda Concepción, a human rights activist and member of the Opposition Movement for a New Republic (MONR), to borrow a nail tool from a neighbor. Using it, she managed to remove the bandage, which family members said covered decaying cotton.
"It's rotten in there," the grandmother exclaimed. "Her aunt found a way; she asked the neighbor for the nail tool and used it to take off the bandage to ease the girl's pain, as there's no other medicine or treatment available," she explained.
"This is the so-called medical powerhouse they claim we have in Cuba. A medical powerhouse where they say there's everything, but here there's nothing," the elderly woman expressed.
Healthcare Professionals Voice Concerns
Medical experts responding to the video warned of the potential dangers of such a procedure. A Cuban dentist, now practicing in the United States, cautioned that if the nail drill was not sterilized, it could lead to increased infection risk and possible facial cellulitis.
"She needs an extraction. That tooth will cause problems again even if she takes antibiotics now, unless it's removed," the dentist commented.
Another Cuban healthcare professional shared insights into the everyday challenges faced in medical facilities, particularly in dental clinics. "Many times, I pulled teeth using a cellphone light, or endured an eight-hour shift with just one anesthesia cartridge. What we did was magic," she revealed.
Recurring Crisis Across the Island
In late August, a mother in Baracoa, Guantánamo, reported that her young daughter couldn't receive care at a clinic due to a lack of cotton. The child was sent home in pain, without treatment.
In September 2025, a resident of Cárdenas, Matanzas, resorted to extracting a tooth at home with pliers, unable to secure a dental appointment.
The collapse of dental care is indicative of a broader healthcare crisis in Cuba. By August 2026, the government acknowledged that only 30% of essential medicines were available, with 461 out of 651 key drugs out of stock.
José Ángel Portal Miranda, the Minister of Public Health, admitted in February of that year that the system was "on the brink of collapse."
Understanding Cuba's Healthcare Dilemma
What makes the healthcare situation in Cuba so dire?
Cuba's healthcare system faces severe shortages of essential medicines and supplies, leading to inadequate medical care and forcing citizens to resort to improvised solutions.
What risks are associated with using non-sterilized tools for dental care?
Using non-sterilized tools like a nail drill for dental care can increase the risk of infection and lead to complications such as facial cellulitis.