With the arrival of cold weather, families of patients hospitalized at the General Hospital of San Lorenzo, known as Calle’i, are sheltering in a tent that offers insufficient protection against low temperatures. The structure, set up near the San Lorenzo stream, has openings through which cold wind enters, and the roof leaks when it rains.
Inside the tent, companions sleep on existing mattresses placed on pallets provided by the hospital. To keep warm, they bring blankets from home and prepare hot mate. Nestorina Martínez, who has been accompanying her mother for nearly eight days, described the situation: “Cold, cold, very cold. We brought blankets, sheets, and that; even so, it’s cold (in the tent), the water also drips.”
Despite the adverse conditions, the atmosphere is marked by solidarity. Wilma González, another family member, said that the companions take turns and support each other. “We take turns with the families; the truth is it’s pitiful (the tent). We shouldn’t be like this, but it protects a little. It should be dignified for the families, who are also going through a bad time,” she stated.
The call for improvements is widespread. The users acknowledge that medical care is good, but ask for a more suitable place to spend the nights. The tent, although it offers basic shelter, is far from being a dignified solution for those facing long hours of waiting beside hospitalized loved ones.