In the present severe situation of global outbreak of COVID-19, the prevention and control of the epidemic in Zambia faces enormous challenges due to the lack of medical resources. The Levy Mwanawasa Hospital, an aid project in Zambia designed and managed by China IPPR International Engineering Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of CAMCE, has recently been completed and successfully delivered. At the critical and difficult moment, the hospital was requisitioned by the Zambian government as designated COVID-19 diagnostic and treatment hospital, which has greatly alleviated the pressure of preventing the epidemic in local area.
The Levy Mwanawasa Hospital is located in Lusaka, the capital of Zambia. It is the largest general hospital in Zambia and the largest hospital in Africa aided by China. The total construction area is approximately 50,000 square meters, with a total of 850 beds, including out-patient department, emergency department, medical technology service, inpatient department, administrative and scientific research area and logistics service area, etc.
Under the guidance of the Chinese Embassy in Zambia and the International Economic Cooperation Office of the Ministry of Commerce, the IPPR team was not afraid of the epidemic and worked hard to ensure the project was completed on time. They also actively cooperated with the governments of the two countries to successfully complete the technology transfer, which created favorable conditions for its operation in emergence and made contributions to the prevention and treatment of the epidemic in Zambia. Currently, eight employees of IPPR are still working at the project site to provide technical support for the operation of the hospital.
Penyas Tembo, President of the Levy Mwanawasa Hospital, highly appreciated the role of this project in preventing and controlling the epidemic in Zambia, and affirmed the work accomplished by IPPR. He mentioned during the videoconference of health experts from China and Zambia that he hoped to learn from China's successful experience in the prevention and control of COVID-19 and apply them in Zambia to fight against the epidemic.
The Levy Mwanawasa Hospital will not only withstand the current tough task of fighting against the epidemic, but will also become the first regional medical center aided by China in Africa that integrates healthcare and education, providing high quality medical service for local people, and will become a symbol of friendly relations between China and Zambia.