COVID-19 Private Sector Fund to build 100-bed isolation center in six weeks

The Ghana COVID-19 Private Sector Fund, an initiative set up to support the government to combat the novel coronavirus in the country says it has begun setting up a 100-bed infectious diseases isolation and treatment facility.

The project, dubbed the ‘Facility 100 Project’, will be used for the treatment of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases when completed.

The team expect the work to be completed in six weeks’ time.

The idea was mooted at a previous meeting after which they moved to settle on a design.

The engineers and architects have since Thursday, April 9, worked round the clock to get the design ready for take-off.

Work however officially begun after a groundbreaking ceremony took place on Friday, April 17 at the Ga East Municipal Hospital to launch the project.

The Managing Trustee of the Fund, Senyo Hosi, told Citi News‘ Umaru Sanda Amadu on Eyewitness News that US$4 million will be used to complete the project.

“One of the key projects we’re now running is the Facility 100 Project which is aimed at putting together a 100-bed infectious disease isolation and treatment facility which doesn’t exist in the country. It is the best time that we would be having an infectious disease facility that will best equip us to fight COVID-19. And the beauty about it is that, it’s a project we are aiming to deliver in not more than six weeks, fully furnished. We have a cost target of US$8.5 million and a worst-case variation of an extra US$500,000. With US$4 million, we should have a 100-bed world-class infectious disease facility.”

“The hospitals we currently have are not designed for infectious diseases so we keep finding all kinds of ways to adapt which still endangers patients and the caregivers. So this is actually designed with the infectious disease protocols well in place,” he remarked.

About Ghana COVID-19 Private Sector Fund

The Ghana COVID-19 Private Sector Fund was established by 10 private businessmen and women to raise GHS100 million to complement the government’s efforts to combat the spread of the coronavirus in the country.

The 10 trustees have each donated GHS100,000 to the fund.

Its mission is to “deliver a very quick response to the challenges faced with COVID-19”, according to Senyo Hosi.

The team has been collaborating with state organisations, local and foreign donors and hundreds of volunteers to make life easier for the less privileged.

Already, under its ‘Feed the Kayayei’ project, it has been providing food for some kayayei, including other homeless and needy people during this partial lockdown and has donated Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) to some medical centres and health workers.

The general public can donate to the fund through the following channels: dial *777#100 on all networks and follow instructions. You can also send a bank transfer to 1300033187312, Fidelity Bank, Ridge Towers or visit www.ghanacovid19fund.com for more information.