Kidney patients from Maisí have raised serious concerns about the dire conditions they face during their trips to Baracoa for hemodialysis. They report enduring extended periods without electricity, clean water, or food, and are forced to sleep on mattresses placed directly on the floor. This harrowing situation also affects a child, described by the patients as "nearly malnourished."
A video circulating on social media highlights the deplorable circumstances endured by these hemodialysis patients in Baracoa, where they receive their treatment.
"We are here without electricity, without drinking water... it's 12:20 and there's still no lunch," one patient laments. Another adds, "There's nothing here, no solution. The AC doesn't work, we have no water, we have nothing, and the food is terrible."
Living Conditions and Lack of Basic Supplies
The patients report experiencing two consecutive nights without power and three nights of sleeplessness due to the heat. The bathrooms are unhygienic, and the cooks are not provided with basic supplies to prepare meals.
"The cooks aren't given anything to cook with. No oil, no fat, nothing, not even salt," one patient recounts.
Their living conditions are equally grim. "We have to lay mattresses on the floor, in the visitors' house, the dining room, and the hall, just to get some sleep," another patient describes.
They compare their plight to that of animals, stating, "The buffalo here have better conditions than we do. We have no life here, folks."
Their plea concludes with a desperate call for help: "We're begging for assistance, for someone to help us."
Geographic Isolation Exacerbates Challenges
Maisí, situated at the easternmost point of Cuba in the Guantánamo province, is located 53 to 63 kilometers away by road from the Octavio de la Concepción and de la Pedraja Hospital in Baracoa, where these kidney patients receive their hemodialysis treatments. This geographical isolation turns any logistical shortfall into a direct threat to their lives.
The situation in Baracoa reflects a broader crisis affecting approximately 3,000 hemodialysis patients across 56 centers in Cuba, as acknowledged by the regime earlier this year.
In June, patients in Camagüey went nearly a week without treatment due to a shortage of acid concentrate and bicarbonate. In July, patients in Santiago de Cuba had their sessions cut from four hours to two because of a lack of supplies. In Las Tunas, the medical transport service was halted due to the fuel crisis.
Government Response Falls Short
In response to the crisis, the regime announced in May the introduction of 200 electric vehicles for patient transport, and in August, 20 electric cars were allocated specifically to Guantánamo. However, these measures have not addressed the shortage of medical supplies or the power outages that disrupt the operation of dialysis machines.
Hemodialysis is a vital treatment that requires regular sessions, a continuous power supply, purified water, and specific medical supplies. Missing sessions can lead to severe complications such as hyperkalemia, pulmonary edema, or even death.
Hemodialysis Crisis in Cuba: Key Questions
What challenges do Maisí's hemodialysis patients face during their treatment?
Patients endure lack of electricity, potable water, and food, and are forced to sleep on floors. These conditions severely impact their health and well-being.
How does the geographic location of Maisí affect the patients?
Maisí's remote location, far from the nearest treatment facility, makes logistical shortcomings a significant threat to patients' lives.
What has been the government's response to the hemodialysis crisis?
The government introduced electric vehicles for patient transport, but these measures have not resolved the medical supply shortages or power outages affecting treatment.