First Covid1-9 field hospital supported by FCA in Brazil is ready to operate

After just seven days of work, the field hospital installed inside Fiat Chrysler Automobiles’ (FCA) former leisure and sports club in Betim, state of Minas Gerais, is now ready to operate and treat Covid-19 patients. This is the first field hospital ready for operation in Minas Gerais, and one of the first in Brazil.

FCA has lent a 2,000 sqm area inside its Fiat Clube to the Municipality of Betim for the installation of a 200-bed field hospital dedicated to Covid-19 patients in the city, which is home to one of the largest Fiat manufacturing plants in the world. The 200 beds, which include infirmary, ICU and recovery units, respond for more than a third of all new hospital vacancies created by the city to treat Covid-19 patients during this pandemic. 

The field hospital occupies two floors of the main Fiat Clube building. The first floor houses the beds and clinics, while the second floor is reserved for the health care staff – including cafeteria, changing rooms, resting rooms, warehouse and offices. 

FCA has also donated to the city of Betim a Fiat Ducato van adapted as an ambulance to help support the field hospital’s operations.

"The union of efforts and the spirit of collaboration are very important in such a challenging moment," said Antonio Filosa, FCA LATAM chief operating officer. “For this reason, we are implementing a broad and integrated program to support our communities in Brazil with resources and expertise to effectively contribute to the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.”  

FCA’s Covid-19 action plan for Brazil

FCA's support program to combat Covid-19 in Brazil is based on three main fronts:

• Contributions to the installation of field hospitals in Betim (MG) and Goiana (PE), adding a total of 300 beds to the cities’ health systems;

• Leveraging the company's expertise and resources to produce and expand the supply of highly strategic hospital items at this time, such as PPEs for healthcare workers and lung ventilators, and

• Donations and leasing of materials to support local health authorities.

FCA is working in accelerated pace to finish the installation of another field hospital in Goiana, state of Pernambuco, which is home to a Jeep manufacturing complex. This hospital, fully equiped buy FCA, will have 100 beds dedicated to the treatment of Covid-19 patients. Its operations are planned to start by the end of April.

FCA engineers and technicians are also working to restore out-of-service lung ventilators from the public and private health systems in the states of Minas Gerais, Pernambuco and Paraíba. In Brazil, there are an estimated 3,600 out-of-service ventilators, of which 275 are located in Pernambuco and Paraíba, and other 335 in Minas Gerais. It is estimated that each recovered respirator can serve up to ten people.

FCA is also producing 3D-printed plastic face shields for donation to health care workers in Minas and Pernambuco. 

More information about FCA Brazil’s broad Covid-19 support program can be found here.

“Behind each action, there are FCA employees dedicated and motivated to donate the best of themselves and their skills to help fight this invisible and silent enemy of our generation,” said Antonio Filosa.