A video shared by independent journalist Mario J. Pentón shows a supposed state fumigator in the Víbora Park neighborhood of Havana, visibly affected by the use of synthetic cannabinoids.
It could be the well-known drug known as "the chemical," given the behavior observed in this man. Neighbors allegedly saw him arrive in that condition when he was supposed to be carrying out control work against the Aedes aegypti mosquito.
In the images, the man appears unsteady, unable to hold his spraying equipment, which has sparked outrage among neighbors and social media users.
The incident occurs amid a severe health crisis in Cuba, characterized by a rise in cases of dengue and chikungunya, as well as the deterioration of fumigation and sanitation programs.
This Tuesday, the Deputy Minister of Public Health, Carilda Peña García, acknowledged on national television that the fumigation plan and focal control have not been carried out, mainly due to a lack of personnel in provinces such as Havana and Camagüey.
"If we do not eliminate the mosquito, it will be very difficult to achieve control of the epidemic," the official warned. However, the case of the drugged fumigator highlights the institutional lack of control and the profound crisis of the Cuban health system, affected by a shortage of resources, low salaries, and the demotivation of healthcare personnel.
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