Pemba now has the largest Covid-19 treatment centre in Mozambique – Lusa

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Pemba now has the largest Covid-19 treatment centre in Mozambique – Lusa

3:28 CAT | 03 Sep 2020

Photo: Twitter / @CruzVermelhaMOZ

The city of Pemba, in the north of Mozambique, has since Wednesday been the site of the largest Covid-19 treatment centre in the country, with capacity for 200 patients, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has announced.

The ICRC say the undertaking is the result of a partnership between the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) and the Mozambican government.

The centre’s capacity can be expanded to 400 patients, the note said.

“We hope that it is not necessary to make full use of the infrastructure. But, if that is the case, we have all the necessary conditions to respond,” said Basílio Mwelus, head of planning at the Cabo Delgado provincial health department.

Moçambique inaugura hoje na Cidade de Pemba, em Cabo Delgado, o maior Centro de Tratamento da COVID-19.
Com capacidade para acomodar mais de 200 pacientes, o estabelecimento hospitalar é resultante da parceria entre @CruzVermelhaMOZ, @ICRC, @OMSMocambique e a @UNICEF_Moz. pic.twitter.com/9UMj2SHZg2

— Cruz Vermelha de Moçambique (@CruzVermelhaMOZ) September 2, 2020

Basílio Mwelus said that the centre was opportune considering the thousands of people fleeing districts affected by attacks in the north of the province. Those displaced are often accommodated in family homes, increasing the exposure and vulnerability of the local population to infection with the new coronavirus.

ALSO READ: Mozambique, Displaced families reaching the COVID-19 hotspot where Red Cross just opened a treatment centre

According to the ICRC, Pemba’s health centres are already overcrowded because of the influx of those displaced.

Entregamos hoje o maior centro de tratamento de Covid-19 em Pemba, capital de Cabo Delgado, norte de #Moçambique.

O centro é extremamente necessário, já que a cidade recebe milhares de deslocados pelo conflito na região e é um dos epicentros da pandemia. pic.twitter.com/Ex5zVoFiAB

— CICV (@CICV_pt) September 2, 2020