In the midst of difficulties and shortages imposed by the fiercest blockade, healthcare professionals and workers overcome daily obstacles, as part of the Cuban people's heroism.

This Thursday, the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba and President of the Republic, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, arrived at the William Soler University Pediatric Hospital, one of the country's most renowned medical institutions.

Accompanied by the Minister of Public Health, José Ángel Portal Miranda, and top Party and Government authorities in Havana, the leader spoke with executives, political organization leaders at the center, and specialists. In very complex circumstances, they have not closed a single service, because for Cuba the most important thing will always remain the smiles of its children.

The Head of State assessed that "as part of what we did in these hard times, and how we have overcome them, a major space will always have to be highlighted for everything the healthcare personnel did, without fuel, without transportation, without medicines, without energy."

In that regard, he reasoned that "having maintained healthcare services at these levels is impressive; and only a heroic people and a committed staff can achieve things like these."

"You are part of that victory we achieved at the UN (United Nations), because that respect for the country is related to what you have done in Cuba and in internationalist missions," Díaz-Canel affirmed.

During the meeting with the Cuban President, the hospital director, Dr. Alena Fontane Valdés, offered a detailed explanation of the work done at the William Soler facility in major programs, including: the Regional Center for Neonatal Surgery, National Reference Center for Pediatric Liver Transplantation, National Reference Center for Airway Surgery and Autologous Esophageal Transplantation, as well as the National Reference Center for Stem Cell Implants for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, and for Obstetric Brachial Plexus Surgery.

During the dialogue, the medical institution's director highlighted that, in a very tough scenario where the health system is heavily impacted by the effects of the blockade imposed by the U.S. government, improvements are seen in key hospital indicators, such as increased survival rates of critical and ventilated patients in neonatal therapy, and critical patient survival in intensive care.

The Cuban leader inquired, among other matters, about the implementation of economic and social transformations aimed at advancing various processes developed at this hospital, which receives children and adolescents from different territories across the country. Likewise, he emphasized the advantages offered by digital transformation and the steps taken by the institution along that necessary path.

The Cuban President toured several areas of the William Soler Hospital, including the Virtual Simulation Classroom for surgeon training, the Telemedicine department, and the Surgery Ward, where he greeted patients and their families.

From the Benigno Water Source, a Look at the Capital's Water Supply

The Cuban leader's work agenda also included a visit to the Benigno water source, as part of his systematic review of the Comprehensive Program for Water Supply Assurance in Havana.

This wellfield, located south of the Cotorro municipality, complements the capital's eastern system and supplies around 58,000 residents in the municipality of San Miguel del Padrón.

This was explained to the press by engineer Yosvany Rubí Bazail, general director of the Aguas de La Habana enterprise, who detailed the actions being executed to increase water volumes and improve service to the population.

The work, he specified, is being carried out primarily to improve infrastructure. In the case of the Benigno wellfield, everything related to civil infrastructure has already been resolved, Rubí Bazail assured.

Likewise, he pointed out that a leak suppression program is currently underway, along with the completion of pumping equipment installations.

During the exchange with the President of the Republic, an exhaustive review was conducted on the progress of the strategy, which encompasses a set of solutions involving distributed generation sources and renewable energy sources to overcome the energy deficit preventing water pumping to the capital.

According to the General Director of Aguas de La Habana, regarding the first stage of the program—which complements energy backing at the supply source alongside the Electrical Union—"all the large generator sets that power these pumping stations are now being installed, and a group of tests is already being conducted with satisfactory results."

Rubí Bazail assured that goals planned for the first stage are being met, "although impacts remain due to the energy contingency we are experiencing."

What is sought, he noted, is for major water sources to have energy protection, which will allow for the progressive restoration of water supply systems within a given timeframe.

During the review meeting on the program's implementation, Díaz-Canel inquired about the causes behind service disruptions in the capital in recent days.

That situation, as explained to him, was caused by major breakdowns in main pipelines like Cuenca Sur, breakages of pumping equipment in several sources awaiting imported parts and components, and adjustments made to power lines being installed for generator sets.

In the dialogue, the President of the Republic called for continued coordinated work aimed at reducing water supply disruptions and increasing volumes of the precious liquid—actions directed at guaranteeing services for Havana's population.

The visit to the Benigno water supply source was also attended by Politburo member Army Corps General Álvaro López Miera, Minister of the Revolutionary Armed Forces; Vice Prime Minister Inés María Chapman Waugh; Minister of Energy and Mines Vicente de la O Levy; President of the National Institute of Hydraulic Resources Antonio Rodríguez Rodríguez; as well as Liván Izquierdo Alonso, First Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee; and Yanet Hernández Pérez, Governor of Havana. (CubaSí)