The first Field Hospital in Jamaica is being constructed at the National Chest Hospital in Barbican St. Andrew.
On Saturday a U.S. Air Force Aircraft transported a large mobile field hospital. The donation from the United States comes as part of ongoing assistance to nations responding to the global pandemic in the Caribbean, Central America, and South America.
In a tweet on Saturday, Health Minister Dr. Christopher Tufton, revealed that the approximately 70-bed facility will be equipped with all the tools to treat COVID-19 patients. The temporary facility will be set up over a three day period.
Permanent Secretary, Dunston Bryan says the Field Hospital will act as an extension of the National Chest Hospital but is equipped to operate independently. The makeshift hospital will be outfitted with a high-efficiency particulate air and ultraviolet-light air-scrubber system, two diesel generators, and eight air conditioning units, and can be used to isolate patients and conduct surgical operations if needed.
Additionally other temporary hospitals are being pursued. The medical fraternity has welcomed these temporary facilities, as hospitals across the island are now being overwhelmed with the increase in hospitalization.
The official handing over ceremony of the Field Hospital will take place on Thursday September, 24.
CVM LIVE‘s Robian Williams reports:
