Cuenca’s largest public hospital faces financial crisis; Cookies galore! City and province proclaim ‘water defense day’; 30,000 will pay reduced bus fare

El Vicente Corral está en crisis – The Hospital Vicente Corral Moscoso, the largest hospital in southern Ecuador is facing significant limitations in many key areas that compromise its operating capacity. According to a report from the hospital, it urgently needs $8.8 million to guarantee its functioning. This amount includes funds for continuing operation as well as to pay accumulated obligations. The hospital, which treats 1,382,000 people directly and more than 2,600,000 referred patients, only has 62% of the medicines and 61% of the medical supplies that it needs. The labs lack sufficient supplies which limit both basic diagnoses as well as specialized ones. The supplies are barely at 38% which is a critical level.

The hospital is at 98% occupancy which increases the risk of saturation in large emergencies. There are 2 operating rooms that are not working and sterilizing equipment with major problems. The ICU and neonatal unit are operating at 40% due to malfunctioning equipment such as ventilators, incubators, and monitors. <And there are some of you who choose to save money by not getting insurance because this hospital is required to treat anyone who walks in the door?> The imaging area also has serious limitations with the tomograph, one mobile X-ray unit, and endoscopic equipment out of service.

Cuenca’s Vicente Corral Moscoso Hospital, the largest hospital in southern Ecuador, is barely staying afloat.

The report concluded that lack of funding led to this situation and is evidence of the urgent need for resources. The budget was reduced from $49 to $42 million between 2024 and 2025 according to assemblyman Roque Ordóñez. He visited the hospital in agosto and saw the problems including incomplete medication in palliative care. The hospital is maintaining priority attention for emergencies, critical care, and maternal-infant care. <And how long do you think you’ll have to wait if you walk in with an upset stomach after eating 2 family size pizzas washed down with a six pack of beer.>

Bored?
Lanzamiento del evento Farra “I Love 80’s & 90’s” – For the November festivities, a new edition of the Farra Concierto “I Love 80’s & 90’s” will take place el 31/10 a las 21:00 in the municipal stadium “Jorge Andrade Cantos” in Azogues. Tickets are available from the Municipio de Azogues or online through meet2go for $20 general admission or $25 VIP. There will also be a controlled open bar <Whatever that means – free drinks with heavy security to keep people from getting stampeded to death from the mob rushing for free drinks?> from 21:00 to 23:00. Mayor Javier Serrano said that this event will return to the city after its success last year, to make it the biggest Halloween party in the country.

Arte y memoria en el Parque del Ferrocarril – The XVII Bienal de Cuenca opened a parallel exhibit el sábado called “Tierra Húmeda: Territorio en resistencia” (Wetland: Territory in resistance) by Cuencano artist Danny Narváez. The show is in the Parque del Ferrocarril (Railroad Park). The show invites viewers to reflect on the way that communities defend their spaces and ways of life against cultural and economic transformations. <Like fast food, fast fashion, me-me-meism, and the transfer of wealth from those who don’t have it to those who have more than they know what to do with?>

Hungry?
La revolución de las galletas – Creativity and passion for cookies have fused to create a world of flavors in each bite. <Not to mention a world of calories – sorry to spoil your cookie craving.>

Milán was started by Cristina Rodríguez Solano in her home during the pandemic. It offers a variety of cookies such as the basic chocolate chip to Brownies de Milo, Red Velvet, Nutella and Oreo as well as limited selections for special days such as Christmas. She will open a fixed location in octubre in the av. Don Bosco sector. She also teaches cookie classes, the next of which will be el 11/10, where you can learn to make tiramisú, raspberry with white chocolate, brownies with Nutella, and bar cookies. Sign up on Instagram @milan.ecuador or WhatsApp 099 925 9939.

Nani Cookies started in septiembre, 2024 as a dream of Daniel Garzón. Nani offers 6 different flavors with the Pistacho Deluxe, Kinderella, and Red Velvet Cheesecake the favorites. You can try them by calling WhatsApp 096 251 7994 or on Instagram @nanicookies.ec.

The cookies from Cookies & Cookies are distinguished by their crispy outsides, and soft and creamy insides. It was started in diciembre, 2023 by Henry Rodas and Belén Ochoa and is located on the 2nd floor of the Plaza Santa Ana on calles Rafael Arizaga and Juan Montalvo. Henry learned how to bake by experimenting for almost a year. His customers’ favorite flavors are Queen Pistacho, Velvet Cream, Chocolate Chip Walnut, and the special Corona which is filled with pineapple. The cookies are super fat, weighing between 115-125 grams depending on the filling. <The foto shows a creamy filling inside a very chubby cookie – shaped more like a drop biscuit and not a flat filling and cooky like an Oreo.>

Cookris was started in 2024 by María Cristina Ortega and offers large cookies filled with surprising flavors such as Kinder, Rafaello, Red Velvet, Milo, Churro, Triple Chocolate, Nucita, salted Caramel, Cerelac, S’Mores and Creme Bruleé. You can enjoy them inside the Goody Gelato Premium heladería (ice cream shop) on Ave. Primero de Mayo y Fernando Aragón or by calling WhatsApp 098 348 6803. <See y’all at one of these places soon – like tomorrow.>

Curious?
Al 16 de septiembre se lo declara como “Día por la defensa del Agua” – Both the Cámara Provincial del Azuay and the Concejo Cantonal de Cuenca met el viernes to declare el 16/9 as the Día Civico Provincial por la Defensa del Agua, los Páramos y la Vida. The resolution was to commemorate the large march in Cuenca in defense of the páramo of Kimsacocha and to reject the Loma Larga mining project. The assembly members affiliated with the Revolución Ciudadana (RC) presented a similar motion to the Asamblea Nacional, but did not obtain the necessary votes to debate it in the full assembly.

Subsidio beneficiará a unas 30 mil personas – Alfredo Aguilar, coordinator of Movilidad del Municipio said about 30,000 low-income people will get an urban bus subsidy. However, there is still no date for establishing the new fare. He said the decision needs to be taken by the Concejo Cantonal and that the increase in diesel prices will not affect the analysis since the central Government has announced a compensation for transporters including city bus service. The Cámara de Transporte de Cuenca has insisted that the approved fare should be 44 cents.

8 candidatas a Reina de Cuenca – The 8 candidates for Queen of Cuenca were announced in a ceremony last jueves. The new crown, made by Joyería Guillermo Vázquez was also unveiled. This piece which will be worn by the new Queen, represents the history, elegance, and commitment that this title entails. The election of the Queen of Cuenca 2025-2026 will be el jueves, 23/10.