[CRAIG NIGRELLI]

A SMALL VILLAGE IN SOUTHERN ITALY’S STRANGE ORDINANCE BANNING PEOPLE FROM “GETTING SICK” MAY SOUND FUNNY — BUT IT’S BRINGING ATTENTION TO A REAL PROBLEM.

THE MAYOR OF BELCASTRO, A LITTLE TOWN IN THE CALABRIA REGION, ISSUED A PROCLAMATION EARLIER THIS MONTH STATING:

“GETTING SICK IS PROHIBITED” AND ORDERING RESIDENTS TO “AVOID CONTRACTING ANY ILLNESS” REQUIRING MEDICAL ATTENTION, “ESPECIALLY AN EMERGENCY.”

THE MAYOR SAYS THE ORDER COMES WITH “A BIT OF IRONY” BUT IS MEANT TO BRING ATTENTION TO THE TOWN’S LACK OF ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE. 

SAYING THE PROVOCATIVE ORDINANCE “IS REALLY A CRY FOR HELP.”

BELCASTRO IS AROUND 12-HUNDRED PEOPLE AND HALF ARE ELDERLY.

THE MAYOR SAID THE TOWN HAS A HEALTH CENTER BUT IT’S FREQUENTLY CLOSED AND INACCESSIBLE DURING WEEKENDS, HOLIDAYS OR AFTER HOURS.

18 REGIONAL HOSPITALS HAVE ALSO CLOSED SINCE 2009 AND MANY IN CALABRIA ARE FORCED TO TRAVEL OUTSIDE THE REGION FOR MEDICAL NEEDS.

WITH THE SHUTTERING OF NEARBY MEDICAL CENTERS AND THE NEAREST EMERGENCY ROOM 28 MILES AWAY ON A ROAD WITH A SPEED LIMIT OF 18 MILES PER HOUR, THE MAYOR SAYS HE FELT COMPELLED TO MAKE THE PROCLAMATION.

THE MAYOR URGES PEOPLE TO AVOID ANY “BEHAVIOR THAT MAY BE HARMFUL AND TO AVOID DOMESTIC ACCIDENTS.”

HE ALSO TOLD PEOPLE TO AVOID LEAVING THE HOUSE “TOO OFTEN, TRAVEL OR PRACTICE SPORTS.”

IT’S UNKNOWN IF THE ORDER IS ENFORCEABLE BUT IT’S IN EFFECT UNTIL THE TOWN’S HEALTH CENTER IS OPEN ON A NORMAL BASIS, ACCORDING TO THE MAYOR.

THE CALABRIA REGION WHERE THE TOWN IS LOCATED IS ONE OF THE POOREST IN ITALY AND MANY YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE MOVED AWAY AND MORE THAN 75 PERCENT OF CALABRIA’S ROUGHLY 320 TOWNS HAVE FEWER THAN FIVE-THOUSAND RESIDENTS.

IT’S RAISING CONCERNS THESE COMMUNITIES MAY DIE OUT AS THE POPULATIONS AGE AND HAS PROMPTED SOME TOWNS TO PAY PEOPLE TO LIVE THERE.

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FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS– I’M CRAIG NIGRELLI.