THE HOSPITAL OF HOPE

DRUM takes a look inside Cape Town’s state of-the-art field hospital as it prepares to receive the province’s Covid-19 patients

- PIETER VAN ZYL

IT USED to teem with visitors from around the world who converged on it for every convention or exhibition you can think of.

The Investing in Africa Mining Indaba, art fairs, thoroughbred horse auctions, the World Economic Forum on Africa, jazz festivals, bridal exhibitions, baby shows and even sexpos – the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) was transformed each time into a world-class venue for displays, meetings, parties and think tanks.

But the sprawling complex in the city’s Foreshore district is a very different place now. Covid-19 has transformed it – as it has transformed almost every aspect of life in South Africa and beyond.

The convention centre has now been dubbed the Hospital of Hope – a huge, hi-tech, state-of-the-art field hospital to deal with the expected influx of coronavirus cases as the province continues to be the hotbed of infections in the country.

The 862-bed field hospital – the largest of its kind in SA – was recently officially opened by President Cyril Ramaphosa, who declared, “We must do whatever we can to defend our people against this pandemic and to make sure we restore life to the people that will come into this facility.”

The Hospital of Hope – Isibhedlelese Themba – is quite a sight to behold. Walls and barriers have been removed to turn the centre into four huge wards that together equal the length of three rugby fields.

The wards occupy a total of 11 339m² and in places the ceiling is 18m high. The four wards are separated by temporary plasterboard.