The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) has deployed its medical corps in the fight against Covid-19 at Singapore Expo.

From Apr. 22, both regular and full-time national servicemen will be providing primary healthcare services for patients at the community isolation centre set up in the exhibition halls, said the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) on Facebook.

The facility houses recovering Covid-19 patients, as well as those with mild symptoms who do not require significant medical care.

SAF Medical Corps helping out

According to Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen, about 100 medical personnel from the SAF Medical Corps will be taking care of 1,800 Covid-19 patients.

"I emphasised to the SAF medical personnel during my visit last week to be vigilant over their own safety, even as they take care of these recovering patients," he wrote in a Facebook post.

All personnel will have to don personal protective equipment which includes masks, eye protection, gowns, and gloves throughout the deployment.

MINDEF is also reaching out to Operationally Ready National Servicemen (NSmen) to seek their aid in ramping up Singapore's community isolation centre capabilities.

NSmen who have the relevant skills, and are currently not involved in Covid-19 efforts or related work, will be contacted.

Previous help from the SAF

The SAF has previously deployed 70 of its medical corps personnel to S11 Dormitory in Punggol and Westlite Toh Guan Dormitory near Jurong East, the first of the foreign worker dormitories to be gazetted as isolation areas.

Soldiers have also been utilised in Singapore's contact tracing efforts as well as to help distribute reusable masks.

Top image courtesy of MINDEF