By Ignacio Estrada Cepero, Independent Journalist
Havana, Cuba. Recently the Cuban media alluded the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the Luis Díaz Soto Hospital in the capital, known as the “Cuba Naval Hospital.” The news reflected only on the good role of the medical services offered and a record of the countless kidney transplants done each year.
These comments are clearly true, but if we are to congratulate what this group of doctors and workers accomplish we should describe the conditions under which they work to improve human life.
The Naval Hospital perhaps in the early years of its foundation experienced moments which today are very difficult to revive by those whom they keep alive. Shortcomings, deficiencies, tardiness, irresponsibility, poor communication between workers and even insubordination of the civilians working there even though this is a military hospital.
In this note I do not not want to judge any worker in this hospital in the Camilo Cienfuegos neighborhood (Neighborhood of the Russians or Pastorita) in the Havana municipality of Habana del Este. I want instead to do this, to speak about a topic directed to those responsible for managing it and to the competent authorities. It’s been just over a year since the laundry area for this hospital has been out of service because of breakdowns that have not been fixed. This deficiency has not been addressed by any official means. The breakdown brings delays in delivering clothes to patients and the delivery of clean supplies to the therapy areas and operating rooms just to name one example.
The problem is at the feet of everyone who is responsible but according to some workers the key to the solution is for everyone to rally without dropping the ball.
It’s true that the Havana Naval Hospital just made it through one more year, but this anniversary has not solved a problem that can be repeated in different Cuban hospitals.
January 4 2013
