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KuGompo / Hanover (dpa) - In the South African Eastern Cape Province, which is part of a partnership with Lower Saxony, the expansion of the health structure is progressing with German support.
On Friday, the Cecilia Makiwane Hospital in the port city of KuGompo (rpt KuGompo - formerly: East London) was given a treatment station for Covid 19 patients designed for a total of 100 beds.
The federal government supported the project in cooperation with Siemens and other partners.
It has a total volume of a good 3.4 million euros and is part of a series of funding measures, which included the conversion of an old Volkswagen factory into a Corona clinic in Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth) last year.
From medical equipment and protective equipment to the field hospital, Germany is helping South Africa in the Corona crisis in various ways - often in cooperation with German companies based there.
In the fight against the pandemic, Siemens has set up an emergency fund under the leadership of the “Caring Hands” organization, in which employee donations are topped up by the company by the same amount.
The ward is a modular extension with an intensive care unit and laboratories.
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In a video message, Federal Development Minister Gerd Müller (CSU) emphasized: "Together with Siemens, we are sending a strong signal today that our partner countries can rely on us in difficult times." This also includes the support of the Cape State in setting up its own vaccine production: "Today we are also sending important messages to a deeply divided world: Health is not a privilege!"
As the winter of the southern hemisphere is now beginning, South Africa is arming itself against a feared third wave of infections: The number of new infections, which for weeks has barely exceeded 1000 cases per day for weeks, is now approaching the 3000 mark.
With around 1.6 million confirmed illnesses since the outbreak of the pandemic, the Cape State has more Covid-19 cases than any other country in Africa - but the continent with its infection figures has a global share of three percent.
At the Cape, 95 percent of the sick were cured.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210514-99-598560 / 2
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Homepage Siemens South Africa
Siemens press release on the Covid-19 infirmary in KuGompo
History of Siemens in South Africa
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Homepage of the Eastern Cape Ministry of Health
South Africa's Minister of Health on the number of Covid-19 cases