The birth center in Lanusei has been closed for two years, and the nearest hospitals, Cagliari and Nuoro, are more than one hundred kilometers away. Too many for little Sabina, who was in a hurry to be born. And so Daniela Mameli, 33 years old, from Tertenia, didn't have time to reach the capital and had to give birth in the car, on state road 125 near Costa Rei, while her husband accompanied her to the Santissima Trinità.
The new parents were assisted by telephone by the 118 staff and the midwife who was waiting for them in the Cagliari hospital, then mother and daughter were taken to Brotzu by air ambulance and from there an ambulance finally accompanied them to Is Mirrionis. Both are fine.
"We were lucky, but there are women forced to give birth far away who weren't as lucky," explains Mameli, who is calling for the reopening of the birth center at Nostra Signora della Mercede . With traffic, especially in summer, it can take up to two hours to reach the capital from Ogliastra. "For us it's an odyssey, and there are countries even further away."
The last births in Lanusei are dated 2022 . Then the shortage of doctors prevented the paediatrics from being open day and night and the birth center was closed. Currently the pediatrics and neonatal clinic is only open three days a week.
