Of the 33 million people who are HIV-positive worldwide, 22 million of them live in sub-Saharan Africa. Along with 14 other nations, the country of Zambia receives aid from the United States and other entities to combat this disease. CardLogix smart cards and software are the cornerstone of an Electronic Health Record (EHR) used in Zambia to fight against HIV/AIDS on many fronts.
Clinics throughout Zambia administer antiretroviral drugs to prevent and treat HIV throughout the country. In order to cut down the frequency and severity of HIV infection, the program has two top objectives: 1). Provide an easy way to remind patients to maintain an extensive regimen of medications, and 2). Track treatment progress to determine which drugs are working, and when to change them.
CardLogix teamed with the U.S. Government’s USAid Program, along with other organizations, to develop an EHR based on smart card technology. Unlike paper records or disparate computer databases, the smart card makes it easy to unify data to register patients, record treatment, track progress, and evaluate a drug’s efficacy.
The chip within the card securely stores a patient health history, providing a complete, real-time view of everything from drug allergies to other related conditions. Icons are printed on the card, reinforcing its purpose in a simple way that does not require reading literacy.
Since the program’s inception in 2007, there has been great progress in the intervention against HIV/AIDS in Zambia. What might be considered straightforward treatment and follow-up can be complicated when patients are poor and live far away from frontline medical care. Smart card technology from CardLogix has helped to overcome these disadvantages and battle HIV/AIDS in Zambia.