The scorching evening heat didn't stop the SOS Committee from calling for help, with dozens of residents and administrators participating in the emergency demonstration at the San Camillo hospital in Sorgono.

The demonstration, promoted by activists from the Barbagia-Mandrolisai district, highlights the critical issues facing the emergency room, which has been without doctors since last Wednesday following the expiration of the payroll workers' contracts.

And while ASL 3 and Ares continue to work to find specialists available to cover shifts at the facility, the critical issues with only three doctors ensuring service coverage continue.

Activists, mayors, and vulnerable patients who have been gathering outside the hospital since the afternoon, where a large-scale demonstration has been underway since 9 p.m., are not happy with this. Several interventions are being made, in what promises to be a relentless battle: "We chose to meet at a nighttime rally, partly because we can't sleep at night on this issue," said the SOS staff. They then added: "We can't live in a context like this, where community medicine is practically nonexistent."

A tragedy that was already foretold, according to the Committee, which reiterated the chaos surrounding payroll workers: "The gap is being plugged with doctors on temporary assignment, who, however, guarantee a reduced service, both in terms of daily hours (generally from 9 am to 1 pm) and the number of days in attendance per week."

And despite the absence of medical staff and pediatricians, SOS emphasized the importance of a hospital that deserves to be valued and protected: "Fourteen towns between Barbagia-Mandrolisai and Barigadu rely on San Camillo, and they all deserve respect," said the organizers of the sit-in.

Hence the emphasis on the emergency room's further critical issues: "There's no planning, we just go by a daily schedule: open today, tomorrow who knows! What could happen if one of the few doctors on duty went on vacation?"

And among references to "a non-existent policy and lack of response from President Todde on the Cuban doctors' solution", SOS also made a heartfelt appeal: "We are waiting for the Councillor to report on the matter and tell us what solutions he intends to adopt so that San Camillo can survive and guarantee assistance worthy of this territory".

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