Journalist Yirmara Torres Hernández took to Facebook to share a video exposing a trash heap just a block away from the Eliseo Noel Caamaño Provincial Pediatric Hospital in Matanzas, Cuba.
In the 41-second clip, Torres highlights the dump located behind the FU Ramón Matiu and points to the hospital, emphasizing the proximity. "This beautiful garbage dump is just a block from the Matanzas Pediatric Hospital. See for yourself. I'm not lying, I'll show you where the pediatric hospital is," she narrates while filming.
This marks the second time Torres has raised such concerns within days. The previous Friday, she documented another garbage pile near her home at the intersection of Salamanca and San Carlos streets, in the heights of Matanzas.
"I am a journalist and I speak not for myself, but for my neighbors and all Matanzas residents who suffer," Torres expressed in her video post.
Torres demands accountability from the local authorities and Communal Services. "It's Communal Services and the Government’s duty to tackle the garbage issue before it escalates. Stop shifting the blame onto the people," she warned.
Furthermore, Torres criticized the idea of resolving the issue through citizen mobilizations: "This problem won't be fixed with token volunteer work or calls for social discipline."
The Growing Health Hazard
The journalist noted that the problem has worsened since May, with trash accumulating in areas previously untouched by waste. "Summer is approaching. It's a deadly mix," she cautioned, addressing the CITMA and the Ministry of Public Health.
Her concerns stem from past incidents. In October 2025, the Eliseo Noel Caamaño Pediatric Hospital was overwhelmed, reaching full capacity with 75 beds due to simultaneous outbreaks of dengue, chikungunya, and oropouche. This crisis led to the establishment of an annex with over 100 beds at the University of Medical Sciences of Matanzas.
Structural Issues Behind the Garbage Crisis
Matanzas' garbage crisis is deeply rooted. The province's state-run media acknowledged the severity of the situation this week, describing the dumps as a "putrid tumor" and warning of the increase in rodents, flies, and mosquitoes. The primary issue is a fuel shortage, which hampers the Municipal Communal Company's ability to conduct regular collections; in some areas, trucks only pass every two months.
Matanzas is not alone in this predicament. In Havana, only 44 of 106 garbage trucks were operational as of February this year, and a government-led "Operation Sanitation" involving 450 brigades failed to address the core issue.
Torres, who served as the provincial president of the Union of Cuban Journalists in Matanzas for seven years before resigning in February 2023, also responded to an anonymous comment suggesting she clean up the garbage herself: "I invited the person to experience our life. It's easy to ask us to endure from a place of comfort."
"They later claim that the problem lies with those of us who speak out, when the problem is the situation itself," lamented the journalist.
Addressing Matanzas’ Garbage Crisis
What prompted Yirmara Torres to speak out about the garbage issue?
Yirmara Torres voiced her concerns due to the proximity of garbage dumps to critical locations like the Matanzas Pediatric Hospital, and the broader impact on the health and well-being of residents.
Why is the garbage crisis in Matanzas particularly alarming?
The crisis is alarming due to the health risks it poses, especially amid historical outbreaks of diseases like dengue, chikungunya, and oropouche. Additionally, the structural issues such as fuel shortages prevent regular waste collection.