Power outages and shortages are disrupting health care across Cuba
Shortages of electricity, fuel, medicines and medical supplies are severely disrupting emergency rooms, blood banks, laboratories, immunization programs and maternal and child health care, said Edem Wosornu of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.OCHA) and Altaf Musani of the World Health Organization (WHO) told journalists in New York via video link.
Their briefing followed a three-day visit to the island.
Operations and treatments are postponed
The officials described a health care system under increasing pressure as hospitals struggle to maintain basic services amid mounting shortages and power outages. In some areas it is blackouts that can last up to 20 hours have forced hospitals to suspend non-emergency surgeries, while fuel shortages continue to limit ambulance services and delay access to critical care.
More than 100,000 patients, including 11,000 children, are waiting for operations postponed by power outages and shortages of facilities.
About five million people with chronic diseases are also at risk of having life-prolonging treatments interrupted, including more than 16,000 people requiring radiation therapy and more than 12,000 people currently undergoing chemotherapy.
“The human costs are significant and continue to rise,Mr Musani said, as local clinics face severe shortages of medical supplies and unstable electricity.
Pregnant women, children at risk
Maternal and neonatal care have also been hit hard.
More than 32,000 pregnant women face increased risks due to limited access to diagnostics, transportation and stable electricity needed to power life-saving equipment in neonatal units.
“Staff have to carry water up the stairs while women give birth because the pumps don’t work.said Mrs. Wosornu.
She added that transportation disruptions are preventing the delivery of vegetables and meat, leaving many pregnant women without adequate nutrition.
Disease risks increase in the event of failure
Water, sanitation and cooling systems also face disruptions, increasing the risk of vector-borne and water-borne diseases such as dengue and chikungunya.
Routine immunization programs remain operational but are coming under increasing pressure due to cold chain disruptions, transport restrictions and supply shortages.
Ms Wosornu described the situation as an increasingly complex crisis with growing humanitarian implications beyond a traditional response to natural disasters.
Calls for urgent support
Despite the deteriorating conditions, OCHA and WHO officials praised the resilience of local health workers and communities, noting that doctors and nurses continue to care for patients despite severe shortages and difficult working conditions.
“Life-saving aid must reach people without delay. Acting quickly and working together is the only way to prevent the situation from worsening. We cannot afford another humanitarian crisis,said Mrs. Wosornu.
