A medical student from Santiago de Cuba has exposed the appalling quality of food provided at their university. Independent journalist Yosmany Mayeta Labrada shared images on Facebook of the meal served to students on Wednesday, consisting of rice, watery beans, and a few pieces of plantain.
"This is the lunch for medical students at the Faculty of Medical Sciences in Santiago de Cuba," the anonymous whistleblower revealed. "The beans even have bugs," they added. Photographs indeed show the presence of insects in the water along with the beans.
The post sparked outrage among the commenters. "And that [food] is on a good day; there are times when they are given just white rice and a partially ripe mango. Yet, they expect students to excel and graduates to provide high-quality patient care. With empty stomachs and struggling minds due to so many needs, the hours of dedication, study, exams, and shifts minimally require good nutrition," remarked a doctor from Santiago de Cuba.
"Moreover, the kitchen and the cooks at that school need to be inspected because not only do they serve small portions of poorly prepared, unhygienic food, but they also add insult to injury," another resident demanded.
Challenges Faced by Cuban Medical Students
Medical students in Cuba face numerous difficulties and setbacks in their quest to graduate. Less than a month ago, a student from Sagua la Grande in Villa Clara reported that he and his peers have to travel to the university in a cattle truck due to the lack of other transportation options in that area.
One of them sent an anonymous complaint to CiberCuba, along with a photo showing the students, both girls and boys, climbing into the truck with their backpacks. "I send this to you because it is shameful to have to endure this," the author of the letter stated.
"Students struggle with transportation, and at the schools, there is neither food nor electricity," they added.
In another instance, a student from Mayabeque challenged the government to explain how long they will demand sacrifices from the people without showing any progress as a reward. "How long must we sacrifice without seeing any return? Sacrificing oneself should have a purpose; it's unwise to do so in vain, let alone for a lifetime. These are tough times, and that's what the country's leaders are asking for without showing the people any strategy or how our efforts will contribute to the nation's progress," wrote Yordy Gómez on Facebook.
"Asking someone to sacrifice without explaining why they are doing so and the goals of that sacrifice is nothing more than lying," indicated the young man, who decided to write after a sleepless night on medical duty due to power outages. When he returned home, he found that he couldn't rest either because there was still no electricity.
"I want answers; I want to know why I am losing the best years of my life sacrificing without seeing any progress and why my parents and grandparents have done the same," he demanded.
Frequently Asked Questions about Medical Student Conditions in Cuba
Below are some common questions and answers regarding the conditions faced by medical students in Cuba, as highlighted in the article.
What issues are Cuban medical students facing?
Cuban medical students are dealing with poor food quality, inadequate transportation, lack of electricity, and overall difficult living conditions.
How are students traveling to universities in some areas?
In some areas, like Sagua la Grande in Villa Clara, students are forced to travel to universities in cattle trucks due to the lack of other transportation options.
What are the students demanding from the government?
Students are asking for explanations and solutions regarding the ongoing sacrifices they are making without seeing any tangible progress or benefits.