Médecins Sans Frontières - COVID Intervention in Belgium

Unique Identifier Code / URN MSF312649

Date taken / Date Recorded 06/04/2020 12:00 AM

Country Belgium

Commissioning section MSF-BELGIUM

Photographer / videographer / producer Julien Dewarichet

Copyright MSF

Usage Rights (MSF) MSF Fundraising, MSF Publications

Formal Consent Copy available no

Editor's rating ★★★★ (E)

Video format h264 (Main) (avc1 / 0x31637661)

Duration 2m36s

Maximum Size 1920px × 1080px 304.00 MB

Additional Information / Shotlist This operation is the biggest operation we’ve had ever in Belgium.

The first area of intervention is in hospitals.

(Meinie Nicolai > General Director MSF)
So, we took two areas of intervention here in the country

around Mons and around Antwerp.

We’re looking at a third one in Limburg because the needs are very high.

We bring expertise on how to organize,

how to work on infection control in these hospitals.

Looking at materials, because everybody is short on materials.

Can we reuse them? Are there ways that we can disinfect?

We are an organization that always invents new ways because we have to adapt.

So, the second area of intervention,

we know, in this epidemic specifically, elderly are a vulnerable group.

And especially, what we see here in Belgium, and we see it in other countries,

care cannot reach the homes anymore, because the whole healthcare services are overloaded.

So, we’ve set-up a whole system to support these retirement homes,

to identify the patients, isolate, test, and organise care,

also, health promotion for the rest.

Again, infection control in these homes is very important.

So, there we support them and their mental health if needed.

The third area of intervention, as everywhere MSF looks at the most vulnerable people.

In a country such as Belgium, it will be people who live in the streets,

that can be homeless, migrants, …

Where are they? What can we do for them? They could be positive of Covid-19.

So, we’ve opened a structure, with 50 beds that we can increase to 150 beds,

where we will follow them medically.

We have a lot of on-going missions, in 70 countries worldwide.

We are preparing our teams, in Africa, in Latin America, in Asia, …

Especially refugee population, dense, urban populations

that don’t have the means to wash regularly, to have social distancing,

to quarantine themselves.

Also, the healthcare structures are not at all prepared.

How will our supplies reach them?

Transport is more difficult, will be more costly. Airports are closing.

So, we are looking for solutions, and mitigate

and see how we can still prepare also, worldwide,

our intervention for the virus that will continue to spread,

we are certain.

COVID Intervention in Belgium | WEBCLIP ENG

COVID Intervention in Belgium | WEBCLIP ENG