Coronavirus Care: EGA’s Guinea Alumina Corporation builds a COVID19 field hospital in just 30 days

Guinea Alumina Corporation (GAC), bauxite mining subsidiary of Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), has built a field hospital for COVID-19 in a record time of only 30 days, in association with Tamouh Healthcare and Dubai-based manufacturer Weatherhaven. The Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Field Hospital has been inaugurated on November 25 by the Minister of Health of the Republic of Guinea, Doctor Colonel Remy Lamah and representatives from the United Arab Emirates and Emirates Global Aluminium’s Guinea Alumina Corporation (GAC).

The hospital is equipped with 208 beds, including 48 in intensive care. It also has a pharmacy and a medical laboratory. It will be managed and operated by the Ministry of Health.

Commenting on the field hospital project, Dr Remy Lamah, said: “I want to thank the UAE leadership for funding the construction of the Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Field Hospital and all stakeholders involved for the job they have done along with other partners for building this field hospital quickly and professionally. Broad, fast action is needed to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and the Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Field Hospital will help us do just that by strengthening our ability to respond to the pandemic and to improve our economic and social recovery.”

The chargé d’affaires at the UAE embassy in Guinea, Khaled Al Hosani, said: “Today, we witness another milestone in the deep partnership between our two countries in the inauguration of the Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Field Hospital, which was established in record time to support in the battle against COVID-19.”

GAC specialises in bauxite mining and export operation and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of EGA, marking one of the largest UAE investments anywhere in sub-Saharan Africa. GAC began bauxite exports last year and is expected to boost Guinea’s economy by more than 5 per cent at full production.