When the Levy Mwanawasa University Teaching Hospital opened in the Zambian capital of Lusaka in spring 2020, the expanded and upgraded facility was more than a successful project; it was a salvation for the African nation. The facility admitted Zambia’s first coronavirus patients in March and soon became the center of its response. Throughout the pandemic, the team says the hospital admitted over 70% of total COVID-19 patients in Zambia.
The transformation from a 159-bed facility to a modern, 826-bed teaching hospital was an arduous process. The construction team overcame long distances and numerous supply issues, says Wang Chongjun, chairman of the international division at general contractor Shanxi Construction.