Mother Reports Infestation of Mosquitoes and Rats at Baracoa Hospital as Grandson Awaits Transfer Due to Fuel Shortage

Photos from Baracoa's hospital, shared by a Cuban woman, expose the unsanitary conditions at the main healthcare facility in the easternmost municipality of Guantánamo province.

Amalia Justiniani's account, accompanied by images of mosquito-infested ceilings and breeding grounds in the gardens, sparked a torrent of complaints on the Facebook page "Revolico Baracoa."

Justiniani revealed that her 10-month-old grandson has been in the respiratory ward for ten days, unable to be transferred to Guantánamo city for specialized tests unavailable in Baracoa.

"My grandson has been in bed 10 of the respiratory ward for 10 days now. He's recovered from his respiratory infection, but unfortunately, he needs tests that are only conducted in Guantánamo. He's been waiting for days for a transfer, which hasn't happened due to a fuel shortage," Justiniani wrote, calling the situation a "cruel joke" and placing the blame squarely on Baracoa's municipal government, Public Health, and the Communist Party of Cuba.

Another user, Yinay Sardiñas, went further: "I have a video showing the mosquito breeding ground, with rats running around like they own the place. May God have mercy."

A third comment by Kirenia Furones, while not contradicting the complaint, put it in perspective: "That hospital is a hotel compared to those in Holguín. Be glad it's mosquitoes and not bedbugs," she advised, also suggesting the use of a mosquito net and repellent for the hospitalized baby.

Widespread Health Crisis in Baracoa

Baracoa's situation is neither new nor isolated. In September, hemodialysis patients from Maisí reported inhumane conditions at a guest house in the municipality: no potable water, no electricity, and sleeping on mattresses on the floor. At the end of August, a girl with a toothache couldn't be treated at the Hermanos Martínez Tamayo clinic due to a lack of cotton.

The epidemiological risk in Baracoa is particularly severe: a massive garbage dump near the town's seawall, teeming with mosquitoes, cockroaches, and rodents, was reported in late September, amidst a backdrop of over 30 confirmed dengue cases in Guantánamo, verified by PCR.

The situation points to a systemic crisis. Health Minister José Ángel Portal Miranda acknowledged before the National Assembly that the basic drug supply covers only 30% of needs. The Pan American Health Organization documented damage to at least 385 healthcare facilities in Cuba, with over 98,500 patients — including about 12,000 children — waiting for postponed surgeries across the country.

Meanwhile, the 10-month-old baby remains in bed 10 of the respiratory ward at Baracoa's hospital, recovering from his infection but unable to move forward, trapped by the same fuel shortage that paralyzes the entire island.