In a bizarre twist that sounds like something straight out of a satirical novel, an idyllic Italian village has caused a stir across the nation by issuing a decree forbidding its inhabitants from falling seriously ill. The picturesque community of Belcastro, nestled in the mountains of Calabria and home to 1,300 souls, has instructed locals to "avoid contracting any illness that may require emergency medical assistance".
But this seemingly ludicrous rule is actually a desperate cry for help to highlight the dire state of the town's healthcare facilities, says Mayor Antonio Torchia. Speaking to Italian media, he described the edict as "obviously a humorous provocation", yet one that has garnered more attention than any of his previous pleas over recent years.
With the spotlight now firmly on Belcastro, Mayor Torchia has shed light on the grim reality facing his constituents: calamitous infrastructure in Calabria severely hampers emergency services' ability to reach those in urgent need, a situation worsened by the high proportion of residents aged over 65.
To make matters worse, the closest emergency department is a daunting 28-mile journey away, along a road where the speed limit is a mere 18mph. In a poignant conclusion, Mr Torchia lamented: "I have been waiting since last June for the health service to be activated in Belcastro, a right enshrined in the Constitution, but no one has given me an answer yet.".
