Friday 26 / April / 2024
Muscat: With a capacity of more than 300 beds spread over an area of more than 6,000 square metres, preparations are in final stages for the COVID-19 field hospital at the old Muscat Airport.
Sayyid Hamoud bin Faisal Al Busaidi, Minister of Interior — Chairman of the Supreme Committee tasked with tackling developments resulting from coronavirus (COVID-19), and members of the committee on Monday inspected the COVID-19 field hospital set up on the premises of old Muscat International Airport.
Sayyid Hamoud and the panel members inspected equipment of the hospital and its different components and they listened to a detailed account about ways to deal with COVID-19 patients. Dr. Mohammed bin Saif Al Hosani, Health Affairs Under-Secretary at the Ministry of Health, hoped that the 312-bed field hospital will begin its operation by the end of September or early October.
In a press statement, Dr. Mohammed said that the hospital will start functioning with 100 beds, noting that the facility includes a shelter furnished with 23-24 beds. If deemed necessary, the facility will be converted into a standard hospital.
Dr. Mohammed explained that the hospital, now under construction, is dedicated to COVID-19 patients to ease pressure on referral hospitals of Muscat Governorate and adjoining governorates.
The field hospital will not directly receive COVID-19 patients, but patients whose condition calls for admission will be transferred here, only for medium-level care. Serious cases that may develop at the field hospital will be transferred to referral hospitals by ambulance, Dr. Mohammed added.
Built on an area of 6,100 square metres, the field hospital will help restore the operational capacity of basic health services, besides keeping risks posed to hospital health workers at bay.
The field hospital will operate with a team from the Health Ministry consisting of 30 doctors, 115 nurses, 7 technicians, 7 assistant pharmacists and seven X-ray technicians. The adjoining shelter will be set up on an area of 10,000 square metres with capacity to accommodate 384 beds.
The facility’s establishment is a fruitful outcome of cooperation between government and private parties, including the Ministry of Health, the Civil Aviation Authority, Oman Airport Company, Petroleum Development Oman, Royal Court Affairs, Royal Oman Police and other parties concerned.
Eng. Abdul Amir Al Ajmi, Executive Director for External Affairs and Value Creation at the Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) said, “PDO praised the role of the Supreme Committee and it is eager to collaborate with the committee in public interest. PDO in collaboration with Carillion Alawi has equipped the field hospital with beds, medical equipment and logistic support.”
Al Ajmi also confirmed that PDO staff has contributed a large amount through a campaign lasting for three months.
