Forcella is transforming a property confiscated from organized crime into a center dedicated to healthcare and solidarity. The first Solidarity Clinic of the "Cura Sospesa" association opened this morning at Via Giudecca Vecchia 29, inside Casa Ariete.
The project draws inspiration from the Neapolitan tradition of "suspended coffee": those who can afford it leave a paid treatment for those who can't afford it. The new space offers access to specialist consultations, diagnostic tests, medications, and, when resources allow, even surgery.
Services are provided through a network of healthcare facilities and qualified professionals and are free of charge to beneficiaries. Each request is evaluated based on public criteria that include documented clinical urgency, financial circumstances, availability of rapid alternatives in public services, and impact on daily life and work.
The inauguration was attended by citizens, healthcare workers, associations, and institutional representatives, including Naples Mayor Gaetano Manfredi and City Councilor Antonio De Iesu.
"Today, access to care is a problem, especially for the elderly, the poorest, and the most vulnerable. Having access to a community clinic that addresses these often unexpressed needs is a wonderful message. It enhances the social value of this place," said Manfredi.
De Iesu attributed a particularly strong meaning to the initiative, also given the history of the building. "Murders and strategies were planned in this house. This is a place that overlooks the former Giugliano fiefdom; it's a truly powerful message," the councilor emphasized.
"This place was a nearly impenetrable stronghold in the 80s, but the attacks by the police devastated the clan, which no longer exists. Forcella can live a new life," added De Iesu. "Transformation comes from the bottom up. Today is a beautiful day because it is a strong sign of the neighborhood's regeneration, and Cura Sospesa will give opportunities to those who don't have them. The third sector is essential, but it must be supported."
Anna Benedetta Torre, president of the Ariete Association, which manages Casa Ariete and to which the confiscated property was entrusted, is also pleased. "Today, a very emblematic property is being returned here to Forcella. It took us two years, maybe longer. We never gave up."
"This is a place where the community can find an outlet, help for the problems of minors, adolescents, and families. We were fortunate to find an association that offers suspended treatment," Torre continued. "We provide the first response with suspended treatment. It's the most beautiful thing we'll ever begin to do here."
The association clarifies that the project is not intended to replace the National Health Service, does not guarantee fixed timeframes for service delivery, and does not distribute profits. The funds raised are allocated to charitable purposes, with periodic public reporting.
"With the opening of the solidarity clinic, 'Cura Sospesa' is taking an important step: transforming solidarity into a real place of listening, prevention, and care," declared President Francesco Ivone.
"We want to offer a point of reference for those who, despite working and leading a normal life, risk giving up on their healthcare due to financial difficulties or excessive waiting times. Here, we won't focus on a single illness, but on the individual and their need for care," added Ivone.
The project was born from the need to address the phenomenon of people giving up treatment for economic reasons or due to long waiting lists, with particular attention to areas of the city where economic difficulties can make access to healthcare services more difficult.
Cura Sospesa has already established partnerships with FisiOne, a private outpatient clinic and physiotherapy center in the Rione Sanità district, and with Clinica Ruesch, a private multi-specialty facility operating in Naples since 1919. The network remains open to new companies and healthcare facilities.
Thus, in a space that for years has been a symbol of criminal power, a facility dedicated to those at risk of giving up treatment is taking shape: a new social function built through solidarity.
Key points about the Forcella Solidarity Clinic
Here is a summary of the main aspects of the Solidarity Clinic inaugurated in Forcella.
- Position: The clinic is located at Via Giudecca Vecchia 29, inside Casa Ariete.
- Offered services: Specialist visits, diagnostic tests, medications and, when possible, surgical interventions.
- Access criteria: Requests are evaluated based on clinical urgency, economic conditions, and availability of alternatives.
- Objective: Combating the abandonment of treatment due to financial reasons and reducing waiting times.
- Collaborations: The project collaborates with healthcare facilities such as FisiOne and Clinica Ruesch.