Barbagia and Mandrolisai without paediatricians: mothers in the square in Sorgono

The Barbagia-Mandrolisai dispute shows no signs of stopping, which has been on the barricades for months due to the absence of pediatricians to support young patients.

This morning, a new garrison promoted by the SOS Committee animated the entrance to the San Camillo hospital in Sorgono , in the presence of dozens of mothers with children in tow , students from local schools, mayors and citizens .

«Here to denounce the lack of a pediatrician of free choice, with all the problems that entails», said Franca Salvai, activist of the SOS Committee, and then reiterated: «Children from zero to 14 years old do not have adequate medical care and around 400 children up to the age of 6 are completely without it, as they cannot be assisted by the few general practitioners who have over 1800 patients".

Hence the emphasis also on road inconveniences: « The closest pediatricians are located in the centers of Gavoi, Silanus, Nuoro and Oristano, at least an hour's drive from here . ASL and Areus must hire specialists directly in our territory, with the agreed free choice competitions, no one will choose our municipalities".

For this reason, new demonstrations are on the horizon, as announced by Bachis Cadau, among the voices of the SOS Committee: «At the end of June we will be in Cagliari for a big march, in which we hope to be able to meet the new health councilor Bartolazzi and thus the health commission of the regional council. We are in the midst of an emergency and when emergencies arise the risks for our children will multiply."

«The new regional council must intervene immediately. We will not give up until the right to care for our children is restored", thundered Cadau.

In the meantime, the inconveniences are also multiplying in Desulo , where from the next few hours the town will not only see the medical emergency shifts uncovered, but will be left without a general practitioner : the young local doctor, Sebastiano Zanda, in force since last summer, will interrupt service beforehand, having to start graduate school.

A replacement has not yet been designated, amidst the concerns of citizens and institutions: « Over 2000 inhabitants, mostly elderly and frail – says the mayor Gian Cristian Melis – will find themselves without assistance , amidst countless inconveniences. The blame for this situation is absolutely not to be attributed to Dr. Zanda, whom we thank for having assisted everyone in recent months, but to the designated institutions, which have not identified a replacement. We have already started discussions with the ASL to remedy the inconvenience as soon as possible."

Melis adds: «I register the complaints of several fellow villagers who, having to take life-saving drugs, are traveling to neighboring towns, finding resistance to receiving prescriptions. This is all absurd."