In a stark depiction of the deteriorating conditions at Holguín's Vladimir Ilich Lenin University General Hospital, large pots simmer over makeshift wood-burning stoves, sending plumes of smoke into the air. This is how meals are being prepared for patients at the largest hospital in eastern Cuba.
A video shared on Facebook by Periódico Patria 1892 last Friday has gone viral, encapsulated by a telling statement: "So you can see the state of our hospital. Everything has fallen apart, completely."
The footage is not a new source of distress but rather an ongoing testament to a crisis that has persisted for months.
Both staff and patients have long complained about the deplorable conditions and thefts occurring within the hospital. According to the latest reports, smoke from these fires has been drifting into the wards, including intensive care and maternity units, for some time now.
Even the official media outlet, usually a mouthpiece for the regime, has conceded the issue, albeit with its typical euphemistic language. During the 61st anniversary coverage of the hospital on November 6, they noted that the kitchen-dining area needed to "seek alternatives to ensure food preparation" due to the "energy blockade."
The irony is stark: at the same commemorative event, it was highlighted that the Lenin Hospital had performed 8,436 surgeries and assisted 4,364 births this year, with an infant mortality rate of 1.8 per 1,000 live births.
While the regime celebrated these numbers, patients were eating meals cooked over open fires and inhaling smoke in their wards.
The hospital's general director, Dr. Amalia Pupo Zúñiga, acknowledged during the anniversary event that employees face "difficult days, working in different and not always favorable conditions, ensuring hygiene, food, and the well-being of those receiving care here through effort, sacrifice, and determination." Her remarks, however, omitted any mention of wood-burning stoves or smoke-filled rooms.
The deterioration at Lenin Hospital extends beyond the kitchen. In September, reports emerged that patients and their families relied on a well nearly a kilometer away due to issues with potable water supply. A video also revealed the deplorable state of the maternity ward's restroom, with dirty floors and broken fixtures, in a facility responsible for over 75% of the province's births.
The energy crisis exacerbates the province's challenges. On October 31, Holguín's electricity demand was only partially met, with just 60 MW covered out of the 240 MW needed, and some circuits experiencing outages lasting over 24 hours.
The situation at Lenin Hospital is not an isolated incident within Cuba's healthcare system but rather one of its most visible manifestations. Health Minister José Ángel Portal Miranda acknowledged in a November 1 statement that hospitals nationwide are experiencing serious issues, including shortages of medications, disposable materials, reagents, and medical equipment, along with malfunctioning elevators, boilers, generators, laundries, and water systems.
The Minister admitted that these deficiencies cause "justified dissatisfaction" among the population and that current recovery programs are inadequate.
The Lenin Hospital, inaugurated on November 7, 1965, as a symbol of cooperation between Cuba and the former Soviet Union, now finds itself cooking with wood and operating in severely deteriorated conditions six decades later.
Understanding the Crisis at Lenin Hospital
What are the current conditions at Lenin Hospital in Holguín?
Lenin Hospital is currently facing dire conditions, with meals being cooked on wood-burning stoves and smoke infiltrating patient wards. The hospital also struggles with inadequate water supply and deteriorating facilities.
How has the energy crisis affected the hospital?
The energy crisis has severely impacted the hospital, with Holguín's electricity demand being met at only 25%, leading to extended power outages that further exacerbate the hospital's operational challenges.
What has the Health Minister said about the healthcare situation?
Health Minister José Ángel Portal Miranda has acknowledged significant issues across Cuban hospitals, including shortages of essential supplies and malfunctioning infrastructure, admitting these problems cause widespread dissatisfaction.