Italian town bans residents from falling sick
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The directive told the town’s population of 1,300 “not to engage in behaviours that may be harmful and to avoid domestic accidents”.
PHOTO: COMUNE DI BELCASTRO/FACEBOOK
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The mayor of a small Italian town has issued a decree forbidding people from falling ill.
On Jan 6, Mayor Antonio Torchia of Belcastro – located in southern Italy – told the town’s 1,300 residents to “avoid contracting any illness that requires medical assistance, especially an emergency”.
The directive urged residents, half of whom are over 65 years old, “not to engage in behaviours that may be harmful and to avoid domestic accidents”.
It also advised people “not to leave the house too often, travel or practise sports, and to (instead) rest for the majority of the time”.
While the directive may seem draconian, it was all done with a touch of irony to highlight the town’s inadequate access to healthcare.
Health facilities in Belcastro are not accessible all the time. Its only health centre is often closed, and the doctor’s office is not open on weekends, public holidays or after hours.
Additionally, the nearest hospital with an accident and emergency department is 45km away, in the city of Catanzaro.
“This is not just a provocation, the ordinance is a cry for help, a way to shine a spotlight on an unacceptable situation,” Mr Torchia told local news outlet Corriere della Calabria.
He said the decree was aimed at provoking regional and health authorities to address the issues.
He added that the ordinance will remain in place until the town’s public health centre is open regularly, although it is unclear how the directive will be enforced.
“Come and live a week in our small village and try to feel safe, knowing that in the event of a health emergency the only hope is to get to Catanzaro in time. Try it and then tell me if this situation seems acceptable to you,” the mayor told Corriere della Calabria.
Belcastro is located in the Calabria region, one of Italy’s poorest.
The BBC reported that political mismanagement and mafia interference have decimated the region’s healthcare system, which was put under special administration from the central government almost 15 years ago.
Since 2009, 18 of the region’s hospitals have closed. As a result, almost half of Calabria’s nearly two million residents seek medical assistance outside the region.
