A grandmother from Havana shared a heartwarming story about how the owners of a café, located across from the Ramón González Coro University Gynecology and Obstetrics Hospital, offered free soup to her daughter, who had been hospitalized for over three months. This gesture came after an issue with the food prevented her from consuming their usual purchase.
Yudith Bestard recounted the experience on her Facebook profile this Saturday, detailing her visits to the café on 21st Street, between 4th and 6th Streets in Vedado, while her daughter was in the hospital following the birth of her third child.
A Surprising Offer
After a cesarean section, her daughter needed to consume soup, which the family often bought from the café. However, one day, the soup was too spicy for her daughter's medical condition. Upon explaining the issue to the woman who usually took their order, Bestard discovered she was the owner's wife. The owner happened to be there and, upon learning of the situation, asked how much longer her daughter would be hospitalized.
"Even if she stays three more months, from tomorrow onwards, your daughter's soup is on the house," he assured her, according to the post.
Initially skeptical, the grandmother was pleasantly surprised when the owner's wife called the next day to inform her the soup was ready. This generous act continued for the remainder of the hospital stay, ensuring no meals were missed, as per her account.
Community Support and Gratitude
Bestard expressed gratitude for the help and noted that the café owners had shown similar kindness to others with family members in the hospital. The post garnered comments from others who had experienced the same generosity. One woman shared that her granddaughter had been hospitalized for many days at González Coro and praised both the food and the hospitality of the café. Another recounted her own visits to the establishment during her hospital stay for childbirth, emphasizing the owners' friendliness.
Comments highlighted the café staff's dedication to assisting those facing extended hospitalizations. As one commenter aptly put it, "This is what true family businesses are all about."
Challenges Facing Cuban Health Institutions
The González Coro Hospital is a national leader in gynecology, obstetrics, and neonatology, serving about 1,000 expectant mothers from various Havana municipalities and handling specialized cases from other provinces. This year, the hospital has faced a mix of power outages, staff shortages, and resource scarcities. In February, doctors performed a gynecological surgery by the light of cell phones during a blackout.
The solidarity shown by private businesses and individuals toward health institutions and patients has become a notable trend across the island. In August, non-state economic actors donated natural juices to the pediatric hospital in Las Tunas due to a scarcity of baby food for children under two years old.
Just this Sunday, AP reported that in Vedado, a solidarity network provides free medications to residents who can't find them in state pharmacies. This initiative, called "Medicine is Not for Sale," organizes requests via WhatsApp, operating on donations and volunteer work amid a severe shortage of medical supplies affecting Cuban patients.
FAQs on Community Support in Cuban Healthcare
How are private businesses in Cuba supporting hospitals?
Private businesses in Cuba have been providing various forms of support to hospitals, such as offering free meals to patients' families and donating necessary supplies like juices to pediatric hospitals.
What challenges are Cuban hospitals currently facing?
Cuban hospitals are dealing with issues such as power outages, staff shortages, and a lack of essential resources, which have impacted their ability to provide adequate care.
What is the "Medicine is Not for Sale" initiative?
"Medicine is Not for Sale" is a community-driven initiative in Vedado that offers free medications to residents who cannot find them in state pharmacies, relying on donations and volunteer efforts.