Chelsea icon shows class, offers his $1m hospital to be used as coronavirus treatment centre in Africa

Didier Drogba's hospital in Ivory Coast has been converted to a coronavirus treatment centre as the west African nation prepares for a surge of virus cases.

The hospital is located in the city of Abidjan and was named after the country's former football star Laurent Pokou.

Built through Drogba's charity foundation, the facility has now been donated to the Ivorian government to help in combating the pandemic.

Abidjan mayor, Vincent Toh Bi Irie, hailed Drogba for the 'patriotic gesture,' admitting the hospital will go a long way in helping manage the situation in the region.

"We thank Drogba for this donation, which is considered an act of patriotism," Toh Bi Irie said, per L'Equipe.

Meanwhile, it is understood the facility is not yet completed but the government is expected to make it functional soon enough.

The hospital is part of the Didier Drogba Foundation which has in the past contributed to various initiatives both in health and education.

Ivory Coast has recorded the second highest cases of COVID-19 in west Africa after Ghana since reporting the first case on Wednesday, March 11.

The country has more than 500 confirmed cases with four deaths being recorded thus far.