Sapri – A sea of torches lit up the streets of Sapri last night in a silent but powerful protest to save the Birth Point of the Immaculate Hospital, now at risk of closure.
Women, mothers, children, mayors, health workers and even Bishop Antonio De Luca of the diocese of Teggiano-Policastro marched together, loudly asking that life continue to be born in this corner of the Cilento.
The procession started from Largo San Francesco and ended in front of the hospital, where the demonstrators symbolically blocked the State Road 18 for ten minutes, a gesture to make their voices heard.
“This is a silent but eloquent protest,” said Bishop De Luca. “Defending this department means defending a vital service, especially for women. We cannot allow these territories to become a medical desert.”
As the torchlight procession continued, a new life was born right in the hospital's Obstetrics and Gynecology department, a sign that protesters welcomed as a symbol of hope. "If they close here, where should we go? To Vallo or Salerno? For many of us it would be an impossible journey," said a young mother present at the protest.
Sapri's Birth Point does not reach the minimum threshold of 500 births per year required by the Balduzzi Decree, which establishes safety standards for obstetric departments. Without exemptions, the facility could close its doors, leaving women from the Gulf of Policastro without assistance, forced to make exhausting journeys to give birth elsewhere.
“It’s not just a question of numbers, but of rights,” the mayor of Sapri emphasized. “We are a fragile territory, with difficult roads and poor transportation. Taking away this service means putting the lives of women and newborns at risk.”
The community does not give up and asks the institutions for immediate intervention. "We ask that the specificity of our territory be evaluated", added a representative of the organizing committee. "If the Birth Point closes, it will be a very hard blow for the entire area".
The torchlight procession ended in front of the statue of the Immaculate Conception, at the entrance to the hospital, with a final message: “Life must be able to be born here, in Sapri, today and tomorrow”.
Article published on May 16, 2025 - 15:13 pm
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This protest is an important fact for the whole community, but the numbers are real problems. I hope that the institutions listen and make the right decisions. Every life is precious and we cannot lose the Birth Point.