Young health care providers at Havana’s Cardiology Institute describe a double despair in their work and private lives.
They worry about what the future holds as the US oil embargo in January led to dramatic fuel shortages in Cuba, as well as rising food prices and power outages across the country.
These factors made their life-saving work at the hospital very difficult.
“Since I was born, this is the most difficult time, without a doubt,” Jose Carlos, a 31-year-old resident of the heartland, told CBC News. “Because everything is hitting us: energy, utilities, transportation.”
Cuba is known around the world for the quality of its health care and has sent teams of medical workers to help other countries. Now Trump is pressuring countries to withdraw from these agreements.
Cuban doctors, nurses and professionals are facing difficult times throughout the country. In this center there are delays in surgery, shortage of medicines and enough pacemakers for those who need them.
The situation is worse outside of Havana, because supplies cannot reach these areas without fuel, while power outages continue for long periods in many rural areas of the country.
“We do everything with love to help people, but the truth right now is that we don’t have enough resources,” said Carlos.
For example, he described the long wait for surgery to have stents inserted.
“The wait can be one to three months,” he said. “It depends on the minute. But we’re keeping patients here until we do the procedure.”
Julio Cesar Rodriguez Cardona, director general of health in Havana’s Cerros municipality, told CBC News that the ban has hit the national health system hard, affecting patient transportation, services and food.
“It also affects the generation of electricity. And we save important resources … because of that gas,” he said.
“It’s scary to think about. An intensive care unit without being able to keep monitors, fans. [on],” he said.
Difficulty just walking
Challenges at work are compounded by the difficulties of daily life in Cuba, including finding a way to work when public transportation is paralyzed due to fuel shortages.
Doctors like Carlos are paid the equivalent of $40 Cdn a month while the price of food has risen. A dozen eggs now cost about $10.
“The doctor’s fee is only for the basics. It doesn’t allow you to buy a lot of things at the supermarket or go to a restaurant or a hotel, or things like that,” said Carlos.
Despite these challenges, he wants to stay in Cuba, because his life is here. Both his parents and his wife, an OBGYN doctor, live here.
“The main reason for everything is that [the] USA,” he said. “I have no doubts about that.”
Paolo, 27, a resident with heart disease who did not want his last name used because he was afraid of the consequences, has considered leaving Cuba.
Speaking to CBC News in front of the hospital, she noted that her favorite author is Alice Munro and that she is thinking about working in Canada. Spain and Italy are a few other countries he would like to move to, if he could.
When asked if he would move to the US, Paolo replied, “I would very much like to work in the United States, even if Trump is president.”
“The situation in the world is very difficult,” he said. “The situation makes me very nervous. And the situation in this country is very difficult. It is very difficult and chaotic.”
He said that although the US administration Donald Trump “makes the situation very difficult,” “the Cuban government is also … a very big problem.”
Even before the US oil embargo, Cuba was in trouble. The country was unstable in part due to the decades-long US economic embargo, the deterioration of public services and the fact that many Cubans left the country.
Political repression made those problems worse.
“Many patients have serious conditions such as cardio infraction, and most of the time, there are not enough drugs, staff or care,” said Paolo.
There are three levels of hospital care in Cuba: primary care clinics, secondary care hospitals and specialized centers like this one. Conditions are slightly better in these special institutions.
Iriana, a 24-year-old lab technician who also did not want her last name used, said facilities in other parts of the country are worse, while facilities at her hospital are slightly better.
Meanwhile, Iriana said she has not seen anyone die at the Havana Cardiology Institute while waiting for care.
“Many patients say we are heroes,” he said.
Still, he said, doctors and nurses are not being paid enough to keep up with the rising cost of food and gas, and some have recently left the profession altogether to find better-paying jobs.
Several of Iriana’s colleagues joined her outside the hospital to speak with CBC News. Rosa, 24, and Raul, 35, are nurses and do not want their surnames used.
Both were wondering about the future.
“We don’t know what will happen, so we continue to work,” said Rosa.
When asked about the situation, Raul answered simply.
“Wow, what a question. I’m just trying to put the patients at ease.”
