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Serious complaints about unsanitary conditions at the Juan Bruno Zayas Clinical Surgical Hospital in Santiago de Cuba have raised alarms among patients and their families, who claim that the facility is in such disrepair that it jeopardizes the health of the sick, especially in areas designated for individuals with chronic conditions.
The complaints, disclosed by independent journalist Yosmany Mayeta Labrada, reveal a situation that completely contradicts the essential function of the hospital. What should be a space for health recovery has turned into an environment where fear and indignation grow daily.
According to the images and testimonials published by Mayeta on Facebook, Room 5D —designated for patients with chronic illnesses— is in a critical state. Among the reported irregularities are: broken and dirty toilets, deteriorated and unmaintained doors, bathtubs that haven't been cleaned for days, broken pipes with a foul smell, flooded hallways, and scattered trash in various areas.
A relative told Mayeta, on condition of anonymity: “Entering a bathroom is a challenge… it shouldn’t be that way for a sick person.”
Real risk for vulnerable patients
The conditions described pose a direct danger to patients, many of whom have weakened immune systems. Indeed, the lack of hospital hygiene can lead to hospital-acquired infections, severe complications, and even an increase in mortality.
Those who enter with a single illness —they warn— could leave with another, even more serious one, which heightens the concern of family members desperate about the visible deterioration of the medical center.
Urgency and dignity in crisis
The complaints highlight the urgent need to intervene in the hospital, both in terms of healthcare and its internal management. For patients and their families, the issue is no longer just about health, but about human dignity.
Because when a hospital fails at the most basic things — cleanliness, safety, respect for life — illness is no longer the only enemy.
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