A video circulating on social media has caused outrage, showing a Cuban woman expressing her indignation over the way her mother’s corpse was transported to the morgue: under the scorching sun on a rusty stretcher.
The footage reveals the body covered with a sheet and placed on an old, rusted stretcher, being moved under the intense heat of the island. The video does not specify whether the morgue is part of a hospital, nor does it indicate the province where the incident occurred. However, complaints about the severe issues in postmortem and funeral services have been escalating across the country in recent months.
“Who’s going to tell me not to film? I’m going to upload this so everyone can see how things are,” the woman is heard saying, engaging in a discussion with the workers at the scene but not blaming them for the conditions. “I know as a worker, you’re not at fault; you’re just following orders, but you have no right to tell me not to film because this is my mother, and it’s disrespectful,” she added.
“She died, and now they’re going to put her in a fridge like she’s a chicken. It’s disrespectful, it’s shameless, and it’s everything inhumane that exists in Cuba,” she continued.
The woman then looked around and commented on the “horrible stench,” pointing out a group of old stretchers that the morgue employee clarified were out of service because they were broken. “If they don’t respect us in life, how will they respect us after we’re dead,” the complainant concluded, noting that at least her mother was now at peace.
Activist Jorge Magdiel Castro shared the video, writing, “When asked about the living and dying conditions in today’s #Cuba, show them this video… The neglect and lack of humanity to which Cubans have been subjected for the past 65 years is painful; this is criminal.”
Widespread Issues in Cuban Funeral Services
Living in Cuba is not easy, and dealing with the death of a loved one is equally challenging for mourners. In recent months, social media has been flooded with complaints about the lack of coffins, vehicles to transport the deceased, and even overwhelmed funeral homes. Additionally, there is a growing issue of vandalism and neglect in cemeteries, which have been in a state of disrepair for years.
Recently, a young woman’s plea for help went viral as she tried to arrange the transportation of her husband’s body. He had passed away shortly before 2 a.m. on a Wednesday at a hospital in Havana, but his remains were still waiting for a Medical Examiner’s vehicle more than nine hours later, past 10 a.m. the following day. The same day, hundreds of kilometers from Havana, another Cuban woman reported the lack of a coffin and transportation for a deceased relative in the town of La Estrella, in the Buey Arriba municipality, Granma province.
Amid the indignation and sorrow caused by such reports, the recurring conclusion is that even in death, peace is elusive in Cuba.
Understanding the Funeral Crisis in Cuba
To shed light on the current funeral crisis in Cuba, here are some frequently asked questions and their answers:
What are the main issues with funeral services in Cuba?
The main issues include a shortage of coffins, transportation for the deceased, and overwhelmed funeral homes. Additionally, cemeteries suffer from vandalism and neglect.
How are mourners affected by these issues?
Mourners face significant challenges in arranging dignified funerals for their loved ones, often encountering delays and inadequate facilities, adding to their grief and frustration.
Are there any efforts to improve the situation?
While there are occasional reports of attempts to address these issues, the systemic problems and lack of resources make significant improvements difficult to achieve.