As Hurricane Rafael looms over western Cuba, the Cuban government has urged its citizens to focus on maintaining hygiene and preserving food to prevent disease outbreaks. On the social media platform X, the 'Gobierno Cuba' profile outlined a series of measures for Cuban families to follow before the cyclone's arrival to help curb the spread of illnesses.
Emphasizing the importance of personal and communal hygiene, the government recommended boiling and chlorinating water for consumption. This advice, however, overlooks the challenges Cubans face due to power outages and lack of gas, which force them to use alternative methods like firewood, complicating these preventive measures.
Food Preservation and Waste Management
The government also stressed the need to store food properly, ensuring it remains in dry and secure places. They advised using well-sealed containers for trash to keep them away from food sources, thus preventing potential contamination. Yet, they failed to address the issue of streets overflowing with garbage due to inefficient waste collection services.
Community Efforts and Environmental Concerns
Citizens were urged to step up autofocal efforts by removing any objects that could collect rainwater and become breeding grounds for mosquitoes, reducing the risk of mosquito-borne diseases. A comprehensive cleanup of rooftops, yards, open lots, and other communal areas was also recommended. Additionally, the government called for controlling pets and livestock to protect them from health risks, encouraging community collaboration in cleaning efforts.
Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel has been working to improve his image following the mishandling of Hurricane Oscar's impact on eastern Cuba. Despite his claims on Wednesday via X, stating, "We are well-prepared and will immediately move to recovery. Stay strong, Cuba!", reports of mounting street garbage have been frequent in recent hours.
“We checked the country's weather situation early this morning. We are in constant communication with the regions expected to experience the worst effects of Hurricane Rafael,” remarked Díaz-Canel, seemingly neglecting the inadequate preparations that previously resulted in fatalities in Guantánamo and ongoing damage assessments from Hurricane Oscar. Nonetheless, he continues to assert that everything in Cuba is "prepared and organized." Overlooked, however, is the reality of western Cubans enduring prolonged power outages while struggling with water and food shortages.