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A police officer reprimanded a father who was protesting at the Guard Corps of the Dr. Gustavo Aldereguía Lima University General Hospital in Cienfuegos, according to reported by the Cuban activist and doctor Lucio Enríquez Nodarse.
The incident occurred this Sunday after the man reported that his daughter was experiencing a high fever and there were no doctors at the facility, only medical students trying to attend to the patients, as seen in a video shared on social media.
The episode occurred amidst a collapse of the emergency department, where family members were demanding assistance and organization.
The scene, shared by activists and independent journalists, shows the police intervention in response to the father's complaint, which focused on the lack of qualified personnel and the delay in receiving care.
Testimonials point to a overload of the Emergency Department and a shortage of medical coverage, which is believed to have caused the citizen's protest and the subsequent police response.
In parallel, images from inside the hospital depict dirty hallways, leaks, and worn-out furniture, contrasting with official publications.
A few hours after the video was shared, the hospital's official page on Facebook published a "response" with photographs of the same emergency room, apparently in order and clean, with no visible patients.
The institution also denied reports of thefts or assaults within the center, labeling them as “false,” and assured that the safety of patients, companions, and staff “is guaranteed.” They urged the public “not to be influenced by unverified information.”
Lucio Enríquez Nodarse stated that, after reporting days earlier about the poor condition of the hospital, the management circulated "idyllic" images, while patients admitted there shared photos with him that would depict a very different reality from what was advertised.
"What you’re doing isn’t medicine, it’s ideological marketing," he wrote while criticizing the gap between propaganda and reality.
The journalist José Luis Tan Estrada reported that the hospital is deleting critical comments on its posts and maintained that incidents of insecurity do occur; he shared testimonies from workers and family members regarding thefts and a lack of surveillance during nighttime hours. “Insecurity is not a false report,” he stated.
In defense of the healthcare system, regime leader Fabián Alonso shared messages and images of clean and functional hospitals, acknowledging shortcomings but emphasizing the commitment of the staff and free healthcare as distinguishing features.
Recent posts have reignited the contrast between the official narrative on public health in Cuba and citizens' accounts of decline: shortages of medications, blackouts affecting safety, and overburdened services.
The tension between both perspectives was particularly stark in the Cienfuegos Guardhouse, the setting for both the father's plea and the police response.
Organizations and users are calling for transparency, audits on hospital security, and a verifiable timeline to improve care and infrastructure at the center.
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