No fewer than 22 Eastern Cape hospitals are being revamped to meet required health standards to fight Covid-19.
The revamp, at hospitals in Buffalo City and Nelson Mandela metros and Sarah Baartman, Amathole, Alfred Nzo, Joe Gqabi, Chris Hani and OR Tambo districts, involve wards being turned into single isolation rooms and the addition of new ablution facilities.
Among the hospitals are Frere, Port Elizabeth Provincial, Midlands, Madalweni, Taylor Bequest, Aliwal North, Cradock and Silimela.
Work at some of the hospitals started last week. The project is worth millions of rands, but the final cost will only be known when the work is complete.
Judy Ngoloyi, spokesperson for provincial health MEC Sindiswa Gomba, said the purpose of the revamp was to ensure effective quarantine and isolation should there be a need.
“The department plans to procure 2,000 additional beds, of which 240 will be high care and ICU beds. There are wards which are being revamped in preparation for occupation by Covid-19 confirmed cases,” Ngoloyi said.
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Article source: https://www.dispatchlive.co.za/news/2020-04-16-coronavirus-spurs-urgent-upgrades-at-22-eastern-cape-hospitals/