NACA launches Electronic Medical Record system in Abia
By Leonard Egwuma
Umuahia, June 28, 2019 The National Agency for the Control of Aids (NACA) has launched the Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system for HIV/AIDS client records in Abia.
The programme which was lauched on Friday at the Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia, was in colloboration with the Global Fund.
In his remarks, Mr Francis Agbo, the Deputy Director and Coordinator, Global Fund project of NACA said that Abia and Taraba were chosen as pilot states for the programme.
He said that the EMR system would help to collect patients’ data electronically instead of the old paper-based reporting.
Agbo said,” What our facilities do is that when somebody comes into hospital, they take information about the person, the progress he is making on paper.
“But it has its disadvantages. It is not fast and it has challenges with the quality of the data.
“So this EMR intends to make it better in terms of quality and also in terms of speed at which data is collected.
“Those providing the treatment, care and support are also better in managing their clients and patients.
“There will be no loss of data any longer.”
He noted that the Federal Government through NACA, decided to choose Abia and Taraba as pilot state but planned to cover the enitre country subsequently.
Also, Dr Uba Sabo, Assistant Director, Strategic Information of HIV/AIDS Division, Federal Ministry of Health, said the EMR system launch was a dream come true in Nigeria.
He said it was very key to report timely and accurately from facility level down to the national level.
“The world is moving digital and we can’t be left out in that aspect.
“So we are trying to computerise most of our facilities in such away that the data being generated at the facility level can also be transmitted to the national centre where it will be collated,” he said.
Earlier in his remarks, Mr Godfrey Azu, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Abia, expressed happiness for EMR system deployment in the state.
Azu, who was represented by Mrs Maria Okeh, Director, Reproductive Health and HIV Programme Manager in the state, said the EMR system deployment would ensure a availability of quality data for information decision.
Azu said that 23 facilities had been fully installed and deployed for EMR for HIV services in the state.
“More so, about 46 facility staff have been trained to ensure availability of adequate manpower cum human resources for the effective utilisation of this technology in the various facilities,” he said.
High point of the launch was the demonstration of the EMR system at the antiretroviral therapy (ART) clinic of the FMC.
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