Watch: Healthcare workers sing for patients in CTICC field hospital

A patient who was admitted to the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) field hospital, has provided an account of their experience inside the “Hospital of Hope”. With a video of frontline healthcare workers singing for patients included, those on the outside have been provided with a view of unity and support like no other. 

WATCH: HEALTHCARE WORKERS SING IN FIELD HOSPITAL 

In the video, healthcare workers can be seen walking down the aisle of the CTICC with personal protective equipment (PPE), singing for the patients on either side of them. 

Patients can be seen sitting up in their beds, looking in the direction of the healthcare workers. In the video, healthcare workers wave at the camera as they pass by. 

PATIENT AT CTICC TALKS OF THEIR EXPERIENCE 

The patient’s account, as well as the touching video, was posted by Melly K on Facebook on Wednesday 15 July. She said: 

“An account from a current patient admitted to Cape Town ICC.” 

The patient, who wrote a brief paragraph about their personal experience in the field hospital has provided South Africans with a sense of hope and solidarity amid the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“Another bed, number 766 just empties opposite me. Each of our beds are allocated a number and ward section. I’m glad for the open plan set up. The smells of the nappies float up quickly. Every second bed has a “dirt box”. Emptied regularly. There are tea groups. Cleaning groups. You are never alone. Security groups. If they think you lost, all they ask is for your bed number and take you back. I got lost just going to the toilets,” the patient said.  

“You get clean bedding every morning. They change it for you. Clean pjs also daily. And a clean towel daily. What would you like to eat today? And they show you what’s available. Really go out of their way to make us comfortable. Not once do they make you feel not important. You get a colourful hand of up to 16 tablets at a time. You just admire the colour scheme and swallow it,” the patient added. 

WATCH: ICC TRANSFORMED

The CTICC was transformed into what the Western Cape government calls the Hospital of Hope. According to the government, the CTICC field hospital is Africa’s largest COVID-19 dedicated hospital with 862 beds. The transformation took just 26 days.

WATCH the time-lapse video of how it was transformed. 

As of 24 June, the Western Cape government admitted 230 inpatients since opening the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) and discharged 176 patients.