Havana/Technical problems in the main medicinal oxygen production plant in Cuba have prolonged and keep thousands of patients in check. If until a few weeks ago the main problem was the chronic patients who need the product in their homes, now the deficit has spread to polyclinics and hospitals, according to several testimonies collected by 14ymedio.
In the Polyclinic Ángel Machaco Ameijeiras, from Guanabacoa, Havana, this Friday there was only one oxygen ball, and the patient’s tail, derived from other hospital centers, was long. “I brought my son with a lot of air and although the children have priority they could not attend it because there is no nozzle,” explains the mother of the child to this newspaper. “What was left of the ball did not even for four more people, the nurse told me, and there was triple that waiting.”
The woman decided to move towards other municipalities, but in several polyclinics she found the same answer: “There is no.” Finally they recommended to reach a center of attention in the municipality of Cotorro where they recently received an oxygen concentrator. “They were providing only children service because they say they cannot cover all adult patients who arrive.”
“What was left of the ball did not even for four more people, the nurse told me, and there was triple that waiting”
The Oxicuba SA industry, located in the municipality of Cotorro, barely produces since last December, afflicted by technical problems and lack of investments. From that industry, the gas comes to different destinations, especially to the Guanabacoa industrial plant where the patients who need it are packaged and distributed. The plant’s service phone has not responded to customer calls for days.
In the Polyclinic Reinaldo Pi Mirabal de San Miguel del Padrón during this week, oxygen has also been restricted only to children’s patients. The same happens in the Mario Escalona Polyclinic of Havana del Este and others located in more central municipalities. The problem also reaches hospitals where restrictions affect admitted people.
“In January they warned that the factory that fills the balls in Guanabacoa was broken,” says the companion of a patient who has been admitted to Dr. Miguel Enriquez, the beneficial for weeks. “The little that has arrived have reserved for those who are more serious, but I have seen people spend tremendous scares, because the night air begins to be missing and there is no ball for all this.”
Not even the health centers of El Vedado are saved from the debacle. This Tuesday at the Borrás-Marfan Pediatric Hospital on 17th Street, there was only one ball with oxygen and the tail to use it could take up to three hours. “All others were empty,” says Niurka, 41, and with a chronic asthmatic daughter. The woman, who also suffers from the disease, tells that she had an attack last weekend and went to the body of Calixto García.
“There was nothing oxygen, the doctor who attended me, a foreign student, told me that many surgeries were paralyzed because there are not even to administer patients in the operations halls.” Until a few months ago, Niurka had to load with salbutamol, bought in the black market, to be able to give areosols that help her get out of the crisis. “Now it seems that we will have to carry oxygen and later to the chair to sit.”
“There was nothing oxygen, the doctor who attended me, a foreign student, told me that many surgeries were paralyzed because there are not even to administer patients in the rooms of operations,”
Antonio Quintana Bonachea, patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and resident in the municipality of Cotorro, does not receive a new medicinal oxygen ball since last December. Tired of calling the service number demanding an answer, he has had to ask for help from his followers on the Facebook page from which he counts and debate about life in Cuba.
“Fortunately, an exiled follower knew about my lack and sent me an oxygen concentrator that used his late mother. I just received it and I am looking for information for its correct use. It is an aid that I appreciate very much due to the instability of the service,” Account this newspaper.
With so many chronic patients without an official supply, the demand for oxygen has also been triggered in informal trade networks. In a few weeks prices have risen. “I sell an oxygen ball of the big ones, full and with all the accessories in 50,000 pesos,” reads one of the many Facebook groups for sale in Havana. After a few minutes, the announcement accumulated a dozen messages asking for the data to search for the product. “Sold, I have no more,” the seller published shortly after.
