A sewage leak has been flooding the access ramp to the emergency area of the “Paquito González Cueto” University Pediatric Hospital in Cienfuegos for several months, forcing patients, family members, and medical staff to step into that contaminated water every time they enter or leave the facility.
The report was published on Facebook by Lauren Montagne Morales, who demands an urgent and definitive solution from the authorities.
"It is unacceptable that in a place where high-quality medical care is expected to be provided to the most vulnerable, a situation persists that compromises the safety and comfort of patients and their companions," Lauren wrote.
The exit is located on the access ramp to the guardhouse. It is an area frequented by families with sick children. A user who identified herself as a communicator from the Assembly of Cienfuegos noted in the comments: "It’s the entrance for stretchers to the Pediatrics department."
The author of the complaint warned that the water "has a very bad smell".
Other users who commented on the post described this situation more starkly: "The foul spring that gushes at the entrance of the guardhouse is unbearable." One person added: "The stench of that water is day and night," and the neighboring residents are forced to breathe it in without respite.
Lauren clarified that the sewage outlet is not new. "They came once to unclog it, but as you can see, they didn't solve the problem."
A user agreed that the previous intervention was superficial: "The problem needs to be addressed at the pit, not there. A few days ago they came and apparently resolved the issue. They don't want to go deep and do what's necessary for this hospital."
The report raises additional concern given the country's epidemiological context. The Ministry of Public Health has activated a alert for a possible dengue epidemic in June of this year.
In January, wastewater beneath patients' beds was reported at the Juan Bruno Zayas Hospital in Santiago de Cuba.
In May, leaks of sewage from an upper bathroom into the neonatal unit of the Provincial Maternal Hospital of Camagüey were linked to the deaths of more than 15 babies due to alleged medical negligence in Cuba.
Filed under: