A Cuban man takes his seriously ill daughter to the outpatient clinic and is asked for gasoline in order to transport her by ambulance

A Cuban citizen reported on social media the delay in medical attention for his five-month-old daughter at a polyclinic in Santiago de Cuba, where they requested the fuel needed for the ambulance that would transport the baby to a hospital.

The father, Jesús Manuel Cuevas De La Rosa, reported that he took his daughter to the Luis Carrión clinic in Cuatro Caminos because the baby was experiencing vomiting and diarrhea. According to the doctors, the initial diagnosis was "mild dehydration."

"They contacted the hospital in San Luis, where they informed the doctor that there was no fuel for the ambulance. If she could secure it, they would send the vehicle," the father stated, questioning the effectiveness of the Cuban healthcare system.

Finally, the girl was taken to Colonia Hospital in the capital city of Santiago, with the help of a neighbor of her father, who owns a private business. The shared images show that the little girl had to be intubated to receive the necessary treatment.

"We boast about having an army of white coats, but what we really need are doctors, not lab coats. They showcase them on the news crossing the Amazon and jungles to care for patients. Is it that there are no jungles in Cuba? Or do we have to travel to other countries to receive proper care? I wonder, how much longer will we endure this? How much more suffering is required for healthcare that they claim is free?" the father questioned.

The lack of fuel is compounded by the shortage of medications, creating severe problems for Cubans when seeking medical services. Some conditions have become significantly complicated, especially when there are not even syringes available in the country to administer injections that could alleviate milder ailments.

Since the beginning of the year, the Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel has stated that the shortage of medications and medical supplies on the island will continue, where pharmacies are understocked and there are dozens of essential products unavailable.

However, the lack of fuel, the departure of hundreds of professionals, and the impact of power outages have created a rather grim situation for Cubans.