A new complaint about the conditions of medical care in Santiago de Cuba has sparked outrage both on the island and beyond.
Images and testimonies shared by independent journalist Yosmany Mayeta Labrada reveal an alarming infestation of cockroaches in the bathroom of the delivery room at the Juan Bruno Zayas Clinical Surgical Hospital, one of the main healthcare facilities in the province.
The photos and video received show walls, doors, corners, and areas near the toilet covered in insects, in a space that should meet strict hygiene standards as it is designated for women who have just given birth.
According to Mayeta's explanation on , the situation, far from being a mere cleaning issue, poses a serious health risk.
The massive presence of cockroaches, combined with the accumulated dirt, visible moisture, and the evident neglect of the place, exposes postpartum women and their babies to potential infections at a time of extreme physical vulnerability.
The video accompanying the complaint was recorded by the husband of a patient.
In the images, the man walks through the hospital bathroom with his cell phone while cockroaches are seen moving freely along the walls and floor, in addition to a toilet in deplorable condition.
"Do you think a woman who just gave birth can be here? Look at the number of cockroaches... and it's everywhere, even in the living room. I have my wife hospitalized here and I'm taking her home tomorrow because this is unbearable," he stated indignantly.
Mayeta emphasized that giving birth cannot become an act of survival, much less involve exposure to pests and institutional neglect.
In his post, he openly questioned the lack of responses from the hospital management and the Public Health authorities, and demanded immediate fumigation, thorough sanitation, and administrative accountability.
"The images speak for themselves. Who is responsible for this?" he concluded.
This case is not an isolated incident. The Juan Bruno Zayas Surgical Clinical Hospital has been the subject of repeated complaints regarding unsanitary conditions and deterioration.
In November of last year, relatives of patients raised concerns about the critical state of the 5D Ward, designated for chronic patients, where broken and dirty toilets, Bathtubs left unclean for days, damaged pipes emitting foul odors, flooded hallways, and accumulated trash were documented.
A relative summed up the experience with a powerful phrase: "Entering a bathroom is a challenge... it shouldn't be this way for a sick person."
In May 2023, a young pregnant woman identified as Yendis Martínez Aroche, 26 years old, publicly reported the poor conditions and treatment she received during her admission to give birth in the same hospital.
The woman recounted that she spent hours without being moved to the room or receiving any food, and that upon arrival, she found an environment she described as "more of a garbage dump than a hospital."
"The cockroaches want to take you away, the bathrooms are shameful… and why continue, if in the end, wherever you complain, this will go on and get worse," he wrote then."
The new report from the delivery room confirms that, far from being resolved, the deterioration persists and worsens, even in such sensitive areas as maternal care.
As long as there are no official responses or visible actions, reports continue to accumulate, exposing a reality that directly impacts women and newborns during one of the most important and delicate moments of their lives.
Filed under:
