Field hospital to be set up at Infectious Diseases Hospital

Minister of Health, Hon. Dr Frank Anthony has said the field hospital donated by the Government of Qatar would now be established in the compound of the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention at Liliendaal.  

A decision was taken to erect the mobile unit there instead of at the West Demerara Regional Hospital as had been initially planned, after a closer analysis revealed that there would not be enough personnel in Region Three to operate the facility.

“It would be a challenge both in terms of nursing personnel and in terms of doctors. So, because we already have a lot of capacity in terms of personnel at Oceanview, we thought it more appropriate for us to set it up in the compound … as it would complement what we are doing. We have already built in some diagnostic infrastructure and some other things that can complement this particular hospital.”

Dr. Anthony made this disclosure during Wednesday’s COVID-19 update.

The facility, which would be set up by local engineers, accommodates 60 beds and is fully equipped to treat critically ill patients.

Meanwhile, Minister Anthony echoed President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali’s expression of gratitude in thanking Qatar for the donation. The Minister said the facility would greatly boost Guyana’s medical capacity.

“Twenty of the 60 beds would be ICU beds equipped with monitors and ventilators to manage patients who have a more severe, critical form of Covid…Currently, our capacity at the Oceanview facility is about 25 for critical or severely ill patients, so adding another 20 beds to the ICU care will significantly double it.”

The field hospital arrived at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport aboard a Qatari Air Force aircraft.