SANTIAGO DE CUBA, 20 de febrero (Juan Carlos Garcell, APLO) - Cuban
authorities tout the country’s status as a "medical power," but
residents in nearby Sagua de Tánamo have reason to view that claim with a
little skepticism.
The "Juan Paz Camejo" hospital, in Sagua de Tánamo, Holguín
province, is a case in point. A few days ago, Ibraim Ferrer Columbié, 69,
in critical condition and in need of transportation to another hospital where he
could be cared for, waited from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for an ambulance. When one
finally became available, it made one trip with Ferrer and two other patients to
the hospital in neighboring Moa, 25 miles away.
Last month, the wounded from an automobile accident ended up at the "Camejo,"
which didn’t have the facilities to care for them. An ambulance was
available, but there was no fuel for it. Relatives went out scavenging for some,
and after three hours were able to scrounge enough fuel to have the patients
transported, again to the hospital in Moa.
"The ambulances we have," said one of the drivers, "are old
[French-built] Citroëns and they are simply worn after so much use."
Because they are so old, spare parts are hard to find and the cars are often out
of service.
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