Now Belcastro’s mayor forbids people from being sick

“Are you coming?” – “How are you?” What elsewhere is a friendly addition to the greeting of neighbors expresses genuine concern in Belcastro. Because in the small mountain village that lies at the sole of the tip of the boot that forms Italy’s outline on the map, no one has been allowed to get sick for a few days now. Mayor’s order.

The town has a little something to offer its 1,300 residents, half of whom are over 65 years old: a historic castle from the 14th century, a view over the green Calabrian hills and, since last year, modern street art. The artist Matteo Lupia has embellished one of the alleys with motifs from “Alice in Wonderland”.

However, Belcastro is miles away from a wonderland. Because what they don’t have here is proper medical care. The nearest emergency room is in Catanzaro. It takes around an hour to cover the 45 kilometers on the poorly developed road. People in town say that the medical service in Belcastro itself is only open four days a week. “And then sometimes three, sometimes four hours.” Sometimes there’s just a sign that says “I’m on a home visit.”

“The mayor would do well to put himself in the spotlight,” says a gentleman as he passes by. “Yes, it’s good that he’s taking action!” shouts another, “now they’re finally listening to us.” With the order that no one in Belcastro would get sick anymore, the mayor Antonio Torchia made it into the national media he was able to voice his concerns and demands to politicians. “If you gave us 100,000 euros, we could organize a doctor who would be there for us 24/7,” he says.

And what he is now saying is actually nothing short of a miracle: After the sarcastic campaign with the health order, he has already received three serious offers from doctors from the north who would like to come to Belcastro.

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