Field hospital helps patients beat COVID-19

A field quarantine hospital in Port Elizabeth helped a woman diagnosed with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) recover speedily. 

Babalwa Poswa (33) from Cradock in the Eastern Cape says that being at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium hospital fast tracked her recovery. The Department of Correctional Services official says that she was placed in an isolation unit which prevented her from spreading the virus while providing the treatment she needed.

Having contracted the virus from her cousin, Poswa chose to isolate at the hospital rather than remain at her work quarters. “We share bathrooms in the staff residential area, there was a high risk that I could spread the virus and I did not want to be responsible for that,” Poswa says.

Unfortunately, by the time Poswa learned of her COVID-19 status, her live-in partner had already been infected. Poswa’s partner was also admitted to the field hospital.

Patients at the 213-bed quarantine hospital have health checks done twice daily and receive three meals a day. According to Poswa, there were several very sick patients in the hospital while she was there, and all made a full recovery. 

She says that as patients, they drew strength from being around other people diagnosed with COVID-19. “Since there is no cure for the virus, one needs to be mentally strong and focused as the body fights the virus,” says Poswa.

She explains that the hospital has strict protocols to make sure the virus does not spread. Patients at the hospital have to wear a mask at all times. They are allowed to go outside, but not all at the same time.

The hospital offers counselling for patients who find it hard to cope with their diagnosis or with quarantine.

According to Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality spokesperson Mamela Ndamase on 28 June, the hospital had admitted 543 patients, of which 403 had recovered and were discharged.