An Outpatient Clinic to Do Good Well

The first building of the Arsenale della pace was still under renovation when we were approached by the needs of the first migrants arriving in Turin: there were no places to spend the night. Starting from an intuition of Ernesto Olivero, we decided to open a night shelter managed with the help of some volunteers. But, after the first few days, we realized the other problems that the people we had welcomed had to face: among these, a fundamental one was the difficulty in getting treatment.

So we decided to add a small clinic to the night shelter: two afternoons a week, thanks to the availability of two volunteer doctors. A service that we wanted to be open to anyone who had a health problem that remained unanswered. We were also able to provide the necessary medicines, which pharmacists and colleagues donated to us, because for our “patients” without resources it was essential not only to receive a correct diagnosis but also the appropriate treatment. Word of mouth among people and in the emergency rooms of Turin hospitals gradually increased access and Providence helped us to adapt our response with a greater number of available doctors. Over time it was possible to open the clinic every day, from Monday to Friday, combining general medicine with various specialties. The daily encounter with so many people from different backgrounds and cultures taught us to pay attention to looking beyond the simple request for help to receive treatment. It questioned us about other hidden problems that perhaps the patients themselves did not notice because – in their eyes – they were less urgent. After a few years, we managed to open a dental practice thanks to the availability of of two volunteer dentists who still continue their service today, supported by about fifteen colleagues. Among them are also some young people who, while enriching themselves with experience, become passionate and try to involve their classmates in this chain of giving of skills and solidarity. Another precious resource was the offer of an optician friend to make his professionalism available to provide glasses to those who needed them. Two services, dentistry and optics, not provided by the NHS, but essential for people with limited economic possibilities who often still today give up on having their teeth treated or buying glasses.
The beauty and effort of this work helps us and our volunteers to always keep our hearts open, to talk to people, to seek the collaboration of many so as not to stop in front of a problem. But it is also our commitment to guide and help patients to know what their rights are, to work together to find the answers to their problems, not only health-related. Doctors know that their contribution is not just providing a cure: it is important to teach people to "take care of themselves" and this requires patience and availability.

For many, the presence of an Arab cultural mediator certainly makes it easier to feel welcomed, to explain their problems, to better understand the prescriptions. And this helps some of them to enter into the same spirit of sharing. Many patients have always acted as "mediators" for their friends who do not speak Italian. It also happens that some mothers bring a dessert prepared by her to thank them for the availability and care received. To those who ask us how we can maintain such a complex, expensive and precious service, our answer is: free of charge. It is the founding value that allows many to give back time, goods, skills and professionalism to those who cannot not even afford to get treatment. It is not intended to be a substitute but a collaboration with the public so that the RIGHT TO HEALTH is truly universal.

Even during the Covid period, during the three months of lockdown, we managed to keep the medical center open three days a week by applying all the prevention and health hygiene rules to protect the three doctors available for service. During that period we learned even better what it means to "do good well", a principle that governs every service at the Arsenale. The good sought for others opens up new paths and projects. For years we have established collaborations with public or voluntary services to also offer the prevention of female tumors and infectious diseases. And also reconstructive plastic surgery, psychological support for familiesand minors in difficulty. The over ten-year collaboration with the Banco Farmaceutico ETS allows us to offer medicines, even those not commonly used, to patients in financial difficulty.

A partnership has also begun with the optometry of the University of Turin that allows students to carry out a curricular internship at our optical clinic accompanied by professors and technicians. It is a way to bring young people closer to that part of the world that they often do not know and struggle to understand. In the meantime, our activity is slowly but surely expanding. For two years we have been able to offer non-competitive sports medical visits for the many children who would have to pay to have the certificate. It is nice to see their happy and proud faces as they see the possibility realized to practice their favorite sport.

The last sign of this good, which is spreading and contagious, is the presence of a therapist who, together with the osteopath service already active, works on the postural control of children and helps them learn correct positions and motor functions. And mothers are grateful for this precious opportunity. Do we still have dreams? Of course, especially that of making the possibility of getting treatment and feeling considered as people with equal rights and dignity accessible to everyone. It is the light that cancels the darkness.


NP November '24
Maria Pia Bronzino