Video: Combating COVID-19 in UAE with sustainable and humanitarian field hospitals

Dubai: If one had been to think about the present pandemic a conflict, the sphere hospitals arrange by the Authorities of Abu Dhabi within the second quarter of 2020, to deal with COVID-19, had been actually the frontiers the place the battle was fought through the first wave of the pandemic.

With a mind-boggling array of logistics that had been put in place in a report 9 days for Al Razeen Area Hospital, on the outskirts of Abu Dhabi, the sphere hospitals created the best instance of operating an enormous emergency operation at minimal value. The organisation that pulled off this feat in organising the sphere hospitals was UAE-based MediQ Healthcare group. Bidhan Chowdhury, the founder and Group CEO of the organisation, tells Gulf Information what it took to tug off the problem final 12 months after they constructed these hospitals and had been ready to fulfill the second wave successfully.

BIDHAN CHOWDHURY: The sector hospitals had been established at a time when Abu Dhabi Authorities determined to go for area hospitals with a purpose to meet the requirement to isolate sufferers in an economical method. We're glad we had good companions to arrange these tents, assembly all of the very important parameters — weatherproof materials was used, contemplating warmth, sand storms, winds and rain. Internally, temperature-controlled A/C, one-way air flow, air stress and contemporary air management, HEPA-approved filters had been deployed, cosy affected person rooms with all the standard facilities like common hospital had been arrange. The deadline to arrange such a hospital with all these facilities was met in report time. Uninterrupted provide of Private Protecting Tools (PPE) was maintained all through these tough occasions.

We fastidiously absorbed a big workforce within the medical area and our key males groomed them particularly for COVID-19 care. We labored in accordance with the recommendation of the Division of Well being, Abu Dhabi, which offered us the rules as per the up to date protocol of World Well being Organisation and the Centre for Illness Management. Certainly, there have been challenges as newer models had been opened and operated periodically. We additionally recruited a workforce from exterior UAE, overcoming their communication gaps — say as an example, Cubans with Spanish as their main language. We apprised them in regards to the cultural sensitivities and native consciousness.

These hospitals are termed as area hospitals primarily due to the next causes:

• They remind us of the urgency to cater to sufferers as in conflict zones.

• They're constructed with utmost pace.

• They're managed by multitasking personnel and optimisation of assets.

• They deal with massive volumes of sufferers.

Certainly these had been arrange in report time as in 9 days and are able to withstanding excessive climate situations. They're succesful to serve for a very long time. That's the reason not one of the area hospitals have been dismantled utterly. There have solely been some partial conversions for complying with screening and vaccination wants.

Admission standards relies on the native planning of the ability, through the COVID Command Centre. Personal well being care additionally could also be empowered to refer sufferers recognized of their facility to the sphere hospitals. Direct admissions are discouraged except guided by way of the command centre.

MediQ has been concerned with many nationwide and worldwide COVID-19 administration programmes as an skilled. We're sharing our expertise with numerous governments to fight the scenario. In our earlier expertise, we had proven our power. Our administration staff efficiently counselled and motivated the medical workers to beat preliminary fears and reluctance to work in a COVID-19 facility. Inside the first month, we had been profitable with lower than 0.05 per cent demise price and 99 per cent stage of affected person satisfaction among the many 8,000 sufferers we dealt with. Due to this fact, we got the extra obligations to function three extra isolation centres and the primary area hospital and subsequently the opposite 4 area hospitals.

Our studying grew whereas working on-site. The federal government began recognising our efforts. We additionally efficiently introduced down the prices that added a brand new dimension to our environment friendly work-style.

Catering to quantity of sufferers relies on the variety of beds deliberate and the dimensions of the hospital, which varies from 150 to 1,200 beds in numerous set-ups finished up to now. Such hospitals usually have 20 to 30 per cent of complete mattress capability as ICU beds. The criticality stage of sufferers accepted within the ICU thus relies on general assets and the scope deliberate.

That relies on the extent of the set-up, medical tools and different buildings. It ranges from Dh18 million to Dh25 million for a mid-sized 150 to 250-bed facility.

It’s one million greenback query. Our studying from this COVID disaster is to not reside underneath any assumptions any longer. Newer pandemics might come, all the time be ready. As a part of future preparedness, each nation ought to have the choice of area hospitals. After the profitable operation of area hospitals in Abu Dhabi, the UAE authorities has already introduced organising of area hospitals in each emirate.

Area hospitals are glorious for disaster administration, however they can not substitute the traditional health-care construction. The fabric and construction of area hospitals have their very own limitations. Nevertheless, for isolation and an infection management functions, as within the current scenario, area hospitals present the very best resolution to curb a pandemic like this.

Sure, the specifically educated professionals can all the time handle this pandemic in a greater method. In a area hospital, the workers have the zeal of a warrior to fight the tough scenario with restricted assets. Greater than the educational half, we'd like abilities of sound psychology and complete dedication within the area hospital workers.

Record of area hospitals arrange by MediQ Healthcare Group:

• Rezeen Area Hospital

• Mafraq Area Hospital

• Musaffah Area Hospital

• Al Ain Area Hospital

• Emirates Area Hospital

General, there are a lot of similarities between a area hospital and an everyday hospital on medical and upkeep protocol corresponding to nursing care, resident and specialist medical doctors’ interactions, bedside diagnostics and therapies are all comparable.

Nevertheless, in a area hospital, these all are carried out otherwise.

The affected person are underneath barrier in zones, the workers enters these zones after duly sanitising and donning requisite PPE gear. The sufferers acquire familiarity with the workers by their names and designations emblazoned on the workers outfits. COVID-positive sufferers are completely different from regular sufferers in any hospital by way of worry and uncertainty with longer keep than regular.

Meals is served within the affected person’s room and all meals are served in disposable containers with disposable cutlery. For comfort of the workers, pantry stations have been arrange inside completely different models in order that the workers in that part can have a small snack or espresso break with out having to utterly discard their PPE.

One of many main components in COVID-19 remedy is immunity enchancment. Since guests will not be permitted in these campuses, sufferers expertise isolation. Their morale boosting is vital in order that their immunity is boosted as properly. We deal with sufferers with the precept of wholesome physique, thoughts and soul. Common schedule of prescribed workouts, yoga and meditation are undertaken for the sufferers by drawing them in designated sunlit areas inside the facility.

Exterior, for different workers who will not be in PPE, together with those that are on their break, are additionally supplied with facilities. Employees avail the bathe facility earlier than exiting the campus on the finish of their obligation hours.

A number of principal and ancillary providers are required to run the ability effectively. These embrace water provides, sewerage automobiles, and normal and medical waste assortment providers. All these providers are scheduled with impartial entry gates within the area hospital campus.

The entry gates are designated to maintain the opposite workers and repair operators away from any publicity. Aside from the devoted affected person admission and discharge gates, medical workers entry factors, the relative communication areas are additionally designated and individually deliberate on web site.

Administration actions corresponding to medical conferences, replace dissemination, interplay with numerous different stakeholders, workers and affected person suggestions are undertaken as routine affairs within the area hospitals.