Swakop community hall turned into Covid facility
NAMPA
SWAKOPMUND
A community-based care facility set up at the Tamariskia Community Hall at Swakopmund will soon be opened to community members in need of Covid-19 medical support while waiting for hospital availability.
Enabled by the region’s risk management committee through community donations, the facility is a transition centre for Covid-19 patients who are unable to cope at home and may need more medical supervision from health officials.
In an interview with the media over the weekend, Swakopmund regional councillor and chairperson of the Erongo management committee Ciske Howard-Smith said the facility aims to relieve the pressure from both private and public healthcare systems, with patients currently filling up all the available hospital beds to capacity.
“We made a call to the Swakopmund community, which was more than willing to donate to the facility in-kind as well as financial support from locals and Germany,” the councillor added.
The 15-bed facility has oxygen concentrators of five and 10 litres which will assist patients while there, and if they require more oxygen, they will be transitioned to a hospital.
Safe space
“We want to create a safe space for patients who are unable to cope at home as well as those who are over the worst in the hospital and may still need some support. So, it can also be used as a step-down facility,” she said.
The N$750 000 facility consists of three high-care beds for acute patients in need of close monitoring while a hospital bed is opening up, and 13 normal beds - all with oxygen generators next to them.
There are also Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (C-PAP) machines and nebulisers.
Personnel at the 24-hour facility will not administer medication, but will work closely with doctors who will make such decisions when the need arises.
Howard-Smith called on all retired medical personnel to assist by volunteering at the facility.
SWAKOPMUND
A community-based care facility set up at the Tamariskia Community Hall at Swakopmund will soon be opened to community members in need of Covid-19 medical support while waiting for hospital availability.
Enabled by the region’s risk management committee through community donations, the facility is a transition centre for Covid-19 patients who are unable to cope at home and may need more medical supervision from health officials.
In an interview with the media over the weekend, Swakopmund regional councillor and chairperson of the Erongo management committee Ciske Howard-Smith said the facility aims to relieve the pressure from both private and public healthcare systems, with patients currently filling up all the available hospital beds to capacity.
“We made a call to the Swakopmund community, which was more than willing to donate to the facility in-kind as well as financial support from locals and Germany,” the councillor added.
The 15-bed facility has oxygen concentrators of five and 10 litres which will assist patients while there, and if they require more oxygen, they will be transitioned to a hospital.
Safe space
“We want to create a safe space for patients who are unable to cope at home as well as those who are over the worst in the hospital and may still need some support. So, it can also be used as a step-down facility,” she said.
The N$750 000 facility consists of three high-care beds for acute patients in need of close monitoring while a hospital bed is opening up, and 13 normal beds - all with oxygen generators next to them.
There are also Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (C-PAP) machines and nebulisers.
Personnel at the 24-hour facility will not administer medication, but will work closely with doctors who will make such decisions when the need arises.
Howard-Smith called on all retired medical personnel to assist by volunteering at the facility.
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