Advanced Ambulance Gifted by St. Petersburg to Matanzas

In a significant gesture of international cooperation, the province of Matanzas has acquired a state-of-the-art ambulance, generously donated by the Russian Embassy in Cuba. This donation, from the governor and the people of St. Petersburg, is a result of the sister city relationship between the two locales, as reported by the local newspaper Girón.

With the inscription "Gift from St. Petersburg to Matanzas," the ambulance is a valuable addition to the provincial Integrated Medical Emergency System (SIUM). Its primary purpose is to enhance the Maternal and Child Health Program, focusing on critically ill neonates, pregnant women, and children.

This donation stems from agreements made during the official visit of St. Petersburg Governor Aleksandr Beglov to Cuba in November 2025, where he pledged the delivery of three ambulances for Havana, Matanzas, and Santiago de Cuba. These vehicles arrived at the Island in August 2026 through the Mariel port, and the formal handover took place on October 4 in Havana.

Matanzas Governor Marieta Poey Zamora shared the news via her social media platforms, expressing gratitude on behalf of the Matanzas people for this significant contribution to their healthcare system.

Dr. David Lima González, head of the province's Emergency and Urgent Care, praised the ambulance's equipment as "first-world" caliber. He elaborated on its role, stating, "This ambulance will primarily support the Maternal and Child Health Program, emphasizing children, neonates, and critically ill pregnant women. It will also facilitate faster transfers from the provincial maternity hospital to the Faustino Pérez hospital, where intensive care is provided for severe maternal cases."

Technological Features of the Ambulance

Yusbier González Morales, head of the regional ambulance base, highlighted the technical prowess of the vehicle: "It boasts outstanding features and high-tech equipment, such as ventilation and cardiac monitoring systems. The ambulance is also equipped with a camera system that allows specialists in other locations to reassess the patient in real-time, evaluate ongoing procedures, or determine necessary interventions."

The ambulance also includes refrigerated storage for blood and neonatal fluids, three specialized kits—for airway management, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and neonatal and maternal care—spinal boards, cervical collars, and a sink for invasive procedures.

Context of the Healthcare Crisis

The arrival of this ambulance stands in stark contrast to the severe crisis plaguing the emergency system in Matanzas. Lima González disclosed that from an initial fleet of 54 ambulances, the province now only has 20, with merely 14 operational: "That's just 29.6% of what we can offer the population," he admitted, noting that six units are out of service due to engine failures.

This situation is part of a national shortage acknowledged by the regime itself: the Ministry of Public Health admitted in 2023 that Cuba was only covering 39.6% of the required ambulances. The crisis has been exacerbated by fuel shortages and prolonged blackouts. In January 2026, the SIUM of Santiago de Cuba announced a complete lack of available ambulances, and in April, a man died after waiting over four hours for an ambulance in the same province.

This donation is part of an ongoing pattern of healthcare cooperation between St. Petersburg and Matanzas. In December 2025, the José Ramón López Tabrane Maternal Hospital received medications and food for neonates; in May 2026, another shipment of medicines arrived at the same facility; and St. Petersburg also provided telemedicine equipment for the Gastroenterology service at the Faustino Pérez Hospital. According to data from the newspaper Girón, the Matanzas regional ambulance base conducts an average of 700 transports monthly, with over 80% being emergencies and urgent cases, including 10 to 15 critical maternal transfers and eight to 10 critical neonatal transfers each month.

On October 4, Russia also donated three ambulances and a Lada automobile to a health center in Havana, in a ceremony led by Russian Ambassador Víctor Koronelli.