Doctors Without Borders (MSF), in support of the Khayelitsha District Hospital, opens a COVID-19 treatment facility to meet the needs of the local community during the epidemic. Established in Khayelitsha Multi-purpose Centre, a City of Cape Town-owned community sports centre in close proximity to the hospital.Khayelitsha Field Hospital, it will help manage hospital overflow for moderate COVID-19 cases. The facility will be operational from 01 June, providing a capacity of 60 beds.

6 medical doctors and 8 nurses employed by MSF will staff the treatment facility. Officially named Khayelitsha Intermediate Care Facility, it will operate during the time of the projected peak of transmission in the Cape Metropolitan area. MSF will continue to support the Khayelitsha District Hospital until needs have subsided.
MSF has supported the Department of Health from the onset of the COVID-19 epidemic in South Africa. The Government from the outset predicted shortages of hospital beds and equipment to care for COVID-19 patients. Health Minister of Health Zweli Mkhize recently confirmed that due to the current infection rate, South Africa would exceed the threshold of 3,300 ICU beds in the public and private sector in June or July.

The clinical management team at the Khayelitsha District Hospital accepted MSF’s offer to support their COVID-19 response through the development of a field hospital comprising 60 beds, operated in partnership with MSF. Logistical teams began sourcing supplies in Marchand construction ensued on 11 May. The Khayelitsha Field Hospital, managed and operated by MSF, was completed and officially opened on 29 May.