The Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Field Hospital was inaugurated by the Minister of Health of the Republic of Guinea, Doctor Colonel Remy Lamah, in Conakry city on Wednesday. Under the patronage and directives of Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, the Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Field Hospital was constructed and equipped in the Guinean capital city of Conakry by the Tamouh Healthcare and Weatherhavenwith the support of Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA)’s Guinea Alumina Corporation (GAC) in a record time of just 20 days.

During the inauguration ceremony, representatives from the United Arab Emirates and GAC were also present. The healthcare facility is fully equipped with 208 beds, including 48 in intensive care, a medical laboratory and a pharmacy. The UAE authorities handed over the hospital to the Guinean State and from now on, the Ministry of Health will be managing and operating it.

Guinean Health Minister Doctor Colonel Remy Lamah thanked the UAE leadership on behalf of Guinean citizens and President Professor Alpha Condé for funding the construction of the Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Field Hospital in the capital. He also thanked all stakeholders and partners who extended their support and assistance in building the hospital professionally and rapidly for the welfare of the citizens. Doctor Colonel Remy Lamah also noted that the Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Field Hospital will help in strengthening the ability of the Guinean healthcare sector to respond to the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and contribute to the country's social and economic recovery.

Khaled Al Rashedi, head of the UAE delegation and GAC board member reaffirmed UAE's support to Guinea amid the prevailing hardship and challenges caused by COVID-19 and provide aid and assistance to its people.

"This initiative is one testimony among many to our leadership’s commitment to Guinea. We are thankful to the leadership of the UAE and Guinea for their continued support and oversight," Al Rashedi added.

Khaled Al Hosani, the Chargé d’Affaires at the UAE Embassy in Guinea, also highlighted that the inauguration of the Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Field Hospital is another milestone in the deep partnership between our two countries, adding that it was erected in record time to support the West African country in their efforts to mitigate the impact of COVID-19.

A wholly-owned subsidiary of EGA, GAC is a bauxite mining and export operations entity. Emirates Global Aluminium is the world’s largest ‘premium aluminium’ producer as well as the biggest industrial company in the UAE outside oil and gas. One of the largest investments made by the UAE in sub-Saharan Africa has been the development of GAC. It began bauxite exports last year and is anticipated to boost the economy of Guinea by over five per cent at full production in the post-pandemic recovery process.

WAM