The President of the Republic, Mr. Wavel Ramkalawan was the guest of honour at the handing over of keys to the newly renovated Perseverance field hospital facility at Ile Perseverance yesterday afternoon. The field hospital was a donation from the State of Qatar in September 2021. The facility was erected by members of the Qatar Amiri Force and was donated fully equipped with beds, ventilators, oxygen bottles, as well as certain medicines.

During her remarks at the ceremony, the Minister for Health, Mrs. Peggy Vidot who accepted the keys, took the opportunity to thank the State of Qatar for their continued support towards our preparedness and response plan against COVID-19. With the additional facilities, the Minister explained that it will upgrade its capacity for admitting patients and within a more conducive environment.

After the ceremony, the President and other distinguished guests toured the field hospital which can cater for 60 beds. The field hospital now has a new façade re-inforced with cement board as well as other extended support facilities for the staff, kitchenette amongst others which will now enable the hospital to run efficiently. The upgrade on the facility was undertaken by Green Island Construction Company within three and a half weeks. The project was undertaken in haste in view of the increase in numbers due to the surge in COVID-19 numbers in the country early this year.

President Ramkalawan hailed the successful completion of the upgrade done on the Perseverance Hospital and thanked GICC for the continued partnership with the Government.

Also present at the ceremony was the Vice President Ahmed Afif, the Designated Minister Jean-Francois Ferrari, other members of the Cabinet of Ministers, senior staff from the Infrastructure Department, the CEO of IDC, Mr. Glenny Savy, the Deputy CEO of IDC, Mr. Christian Lionnet and Members of the IDC Board as well as GICC officials.