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HAVANA, October 22 (Víctor M. Domínguez, Lux Info Press /
www.cubanet.org) - Diabetics in Cuba face increasing hardships obtaining
supplies and food to deal with the disease.
For starters, they must apply yearly for the right to buy certain food items
to which they are entitled under the government’s rationing system. In
order to do so, they must present results of a medical test. The problem? The
reagent needed to perform the test is in short supply.
At the "Armando Zulueta" polyclinic in Old Havana, for example,
hundreds of patients have been waiting to have the test performed. Once they do,
they will be granted the right to buy an additional 2.2 pounds of powdered milk,
and 2 pounds of either chicken or beef, per month.
In addition, insulin-dependent diabetics seldom can get enough syringes,
because these are not available in the drug stores or in the medical
dispensaries.
Nancy Velas, 59, a resident of central Havana, said she has been using the
same disposable syringe for three months now. She said she boils it between uses
to sterilize it. She also complained she never has enough alcohol or cotton
swabs.
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original en español | 
