Bronte maternity unit faces future uncertainty amid union calls for protection

The CISAL union is advocating for the protection of the maternity unit at the Castiglione-Prestianni Hospital in Bronte, Sicily. Alfio Papa, a member of the CISAL Catania Retirees Board, has called on national, regional, and local authorities to ensure the continuity of this service.

The union argues that the maternity ward is essential for the security and stability of communities in the Etna and Nebrodi mountain areas. They contend that evaluating the service solely based on birth numbers or distance fails to account for the difficulties of mountain life, such as poor road conditions, weather, and travel times during emergencies. The preservation of the unit is framed as a vital measure to combat depopulation and declining birth rates in Sicily's mountainous regions.