An Electronic Medical Record system to support HIV treatment in rural Haiti

Abstract

HIV-AIDS has become the world's leading infectious cause of adult deaths. Approximately 5% of Haiti's adult population is infected with HIV, making it the most affected nation in the western hemisphere[1]. The non-governmental organization Zanmi Lasante (ZL) launched an innovative program 5 years ago to treat HIV patients in the very impoverished central plateau with highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART)[1]. ZL currently follows more than 4000 HIV-positive patients, over 10% of whom are already on HAART, and was recently awarded funds from the Haitian grant from the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. Expanding treatment in a region with few doctors and virtually no roads, electricity, or electronic communication is a major challenge requiring careful coordination of clinical care, investigations and drug supplies. We describe a prototype Electronic Medical Record system to support treatment of HIV and tuberculosis in remote and impoverished areas.