Electronic data system for people with HIV

Jun 03, 2019

Musinguzi said the biometric data system will be introduced at national and regional referral hospitals, district hospitals and health centre IVs.

 
Testing for HIV. File photo
 
The Government plans to introduce an electronic medical system to record information and track people living with HIV/AIDS in the country.
 
Dr. Joshua Musinguzi, the programme manager of the Aids Control Programme at the health ministry, said the system will record accurate data and enable the Government to implement a better health plan.
 
"We want to expand this system to health facilities with high volumes of clients with HIV so that we are able to identify new and old ones,'' he said.
 
Musinguzi said the biometric data system will be introduced at national and regional referral hospitals, district hospitals and health centre IVs.
 
The biometric client data system has already been introduced at Hoima Hospital.
 
Records indicate that at least 50,000 new infections occur annually.
 
Statistics also show that countrywide, there are 1.3 million people living with HIV, with close to 1.1 million on treatment.
 
Speaking during the commissioning of the renovated ART Clinic at Hoima Hospital recently, Musinguzi said the system ensures password protection for confidentiality.
 
Dr. James Kyayimba, the clinical team leader for Hoima Hospital ART Clinic, explained that the system identifies clients who have not shown up for their appointments.
 
Kyayimba added that this has helped them to track such patients.
 
"The new system has helped us to boost the retention of clients on care. If a patient goes to another facility to register as a new client, the system will identify them,'' he said.
 
Meanwhile, Uganda will get $410m (sh1.5 trillion) for fighting HIV/AIDs next year. This was revealed by Dr. Lisa Nelson, the country director of the US Centers for Disease Control, during the commissioning of the ART Clinic at Hoima Hospital.

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