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The Provincial Pediatric Hospital "Eliseo Noel Caamaño" in Matanzas performed, for the first time in the province, a ligation of esophageal varices in a pediatric patient, a high-precision endoscopic procedure that had not been carried out in that area for children until now.
The announcement was made by the Faustino Pérez Hospital on their social media, where the event was described as "a milestone in pediatric care" achieved through the collaboration between two hospital institutions in Matanzas and the support of a Swiss medical cooperation organization.
The technique used —known as endoscopic variceal ligation— is internationally regarded as the preferred method for treating and preventing gastrointestinal bleeding associated with portal hypertension in children, with an effectiveness of 90% in stopping the hemorrhage and a lower complication rate than the previous method, sclerotherapy.
The procedure was made possible thanks to the joint intervention of the Gastroenterology Service of the «Faustino Pérez Hernández» Provincial Clinical-Surgical Teaching Hospital, whose specialists shared their expertise with the pediatric center team, and the support of the Matanzas-Suiza Group, linked to the non-governmental organization mediCuba-Suisse.
According to the official statement, "its implementation will allow for more timely care for children who require this procedure, favoring their treatment within the province and strengthening the region's healthcare capacity," which would prevent the need for transfers to other regions of the country.
On August 6, 2025, the Matanzas-Switzerland Group visited the Pediatric Hospital and delivered a container of medical donations, a testament to the active relationship it maintains with the institution.
The technical advancement, however, occurs in a context of severe precariousness in that very hospital.
In October 2025, the center collapsed with 100% of its 75 beds occupied due to a simultaneous outbreak of dengue, chikungunya, and oropouche, which necessitated the establishment of an additional facility with more than 100 extra beds.
Months later, a video released in February 2026 showed the deplorable conditions of the hospital: bathrooms filled with trash, dirty floors, and deteriorated walls.
That same month, a mother reported the death of her two-year-old son due to widespread sepsis with multi-organ failure, citing alleged medical negligence.
In May 2026, journalists reported the existence of a garbage dump a block away from the children’s hospital, which exacerbates the risk of disease-carrying vector proliferation.
Within that framework of contradictions, the official statement concludes that the achievement "reaffirms the value of international cooperation, continuous training, and joint efforts among health institutions, which continue to drive the development of Gastroenterology in Matanzas and provide greater opportunities for specialized care for children."
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