Cuba’s Crisis: A Multifaceted Emergency of Socio-Economic and Health Challenges
Cuba faces a dire socio-economic crisis exacerbated by recent natural disasters, including hurricanes and earthquakes, which have led to water shortages and healthcare disruptions. Concurrent public health challenges from Dengue and Oropouche virus outbreaks further complicate the situation. PAHO is actively responding to support healthcare delivery amidst these crises.
Cuba has been grappling with a severe economic crisis for several years, which has been worsened by multiple disasters. The prevailing conditions have led to inflation, shortages of medication, and a significant outflow of healthcare professionals, severely impairing the healthcare system and affecting public health outcomes across the nation.
Recently, Cuba has faced an extraordinary crisis marked by concurrent disasters, including two hurricanes—Oscar and Rafael—and two significant earthquakes. These calamities have caused overwhelming destruction, extensive flooding, and disruptions to crucial services such as water supply and healthcare, compounding the ongoing socio-economic difficulties.
The situation is dire in seven Cuban provinces facing acute water shortages, particularly in Artemisa (83% affected) and Havana (80% affected). Power outages and infrastructure damage in Mayabeque, Guantánamo, and Granma further intensify the crisis, complicating emergency response efforts in the affected regions.
Public health challenges are rampant, as Cuba grapples with ongoing epidemics of Dengue and Oropouche virus. Flooding, lack of potable water, and unsanitary conditions in temporary shelters raise the risk of communicable disease outbreaks, including digestive-borne, respiratory infections, and other vector-borne diseases.
Despite some capacity in maintaining health services and epidemiological surveillance, there remains a significant deficit in reagents, laboratory supplies, antibiotics, and other essential medical resources needed for effective treatment and healthcare delivery. Reports of Oropouche virus disease outbreaks have emerged across South America and the Caribbean, with Cuba documenting 23,639 suspected cases and 626 confirmed cases by January 2025, including severe neurological manifestations in some patients.
In response to these crises, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has mobilized efforts to maintain healthcare services for vulnerable populations in collaboration with Cuba’s Ministry of Health and the United Nations. Financial and operational backing from Direct Relief, the European Union, and the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund has enabled PAHO to send essential medical supplies and equipment to affected regions.
Efforts to combat the Oropouche outbreak include the provision of reagents for molecular detection and training for laboratory personnel on advanced diagnostic techniques. A mission in September 2024 by PAHO’s regional experts aimed to evaluate the Oropouche situation, assess outbreak dynamics, and identify opportunities for enhanced response and control measures.
Cuba’s current crises highlight the profound socio-economic challenges compounded by a series of natural disasters and public health epidemics. Despite ongoing efforts by local and international organizations to address these issues, the healthcare system remains severely strained. Sustained support and effective emergency responses are critical to stabilize the situation and protect the health and well-being of the Cuban population.
Original Source: www.paho.org
