BAHAMAS — Samaritan’s Purse has raised a 28-bed Emergency Field Hospital in Nassau, the Bahamas, to help battle the COVID-19 pandemic there. The charity is partnering with Princess Margaret Hospital in this fight to save lives.

Dr. Elliott Tenpenny, Samaritan’s Purse

Rather strange on the streets– seeing these beautiful city streets utterly devoid of people. The only things that are open, frankly, are the hospital and the work that we’re doing here to get prepared to take more COVID-19 patients.

Here in the Bahamas, they’re suffering from a COVID-19 epidemic just like the rest of the world, but even more here on a small island that has a lot less resources. Hospitals were overwhelmed and people were dying, not just here but in other islands also. So we, as Samaritan’s Purse, agreed to come here and set up this COVID treatment unit behind me. It’s a 28-bed facility that is designed to take care of only COVID-19 patients.

Initially, 25 people came aboard the DC-8 from Samaritan’s Purse. We’ve been working alongside staff in Princess Margaret Hospital to get this up over the last two days. The first patients will arrive Monday morning.

Kelly Arroyo, Samaritan’s Purse

I first got experience with COVID-19, this virus, when I deployed with Samaritan’s Purse to Cremona, Italy, at the beginning of this year. And I just saw the effects of this virus and what it does to people, what it does to the family members, what it does when you’re separated from your loved one. And so if we can alleviate any part of their stress or anything that they need, then I want to be a part of it.

Dr. Elliott Tenpenny

So I just want to say thank you from the team here. I would just ask that you would pray for us. Pray for the Princess Margaret Hospital as it battles this epidemic alongside of us. But most of all, pray for the patients, who each and every one of them will be fighting through this disease alongside of us. Thank you.

Samaritan’s Purse is a nondenominational evangelical Christian organization providing spiritual and physical aid to hurting people around the world. Since 1970, Samaritan’s Purse has helped meet the needs of people who are victims of war, poverty, natural disasters, disease, and famine with the purpose of sharing God’s love through His Son, Jesus Christ. The organization serves the Church worldwide to promote the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Samaritan’s Purse International Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) program is committed to meeting the critical needs of victims of war, poverty, famine, disease, and natural disaster. We stand ready to respond at a moment’s notice whenever and wherever disaster strikes. The DART specializes in providing water, food, shelter, and medical care while sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ.

CONTACT: Kaitlyn Lahm, news@samaritan.org

Read more news on Humanitarian Services, Disaster Relief, and the COVID 19 Pandemic.

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