Uganda to use “SMAPP” to test Malaria.

By; Ben Musanje

05^th Aug 2020

Ministry of Health has disclosed that the country is to apply use of the newly introduced Data Logger Smartphone App (SMAPP) to test malaria parasite.

Recently, Abbott announced another innovation, SMAPP following the introduction of the Highly Sensitive Rapid Diagnostic Tests (HS-RDTs) to support enhanced case detection and surveillance systems.

Now, Dr. Diana Atwine the Permanent Secretary for MOH says that the use of this App on smart phones will allow the healthcare worker to log a visually read RDT test result, as well as patient demographics, and transmit them securely together with the GPS location and the time of the test to the Uganda National Health Laboratory Services server.

She says that the system displays geospatial tests information on a map and enables health program managers to see data in near real-time.

The Smartphone Data Logger app also enables the user to view information on the tests they performed, the patients and their results.

This empowers healthcare workers and managers to utilize real-time data for evidence-based decision-making, quality services, and improved disease management.

Malaria remains a leading cause of illness and death in Uganda with the disease accounting for between a third and half of all outpatient consultations. Each malaria episode costs a family on average 9 US dollars Approx. 35,000/=.

However, MOH commences the process of carrying a malaria survey across the country to accelerate efforts toward the Uganda Malaria Reduction and Elimination Plan (UMREP) 2021 – 2025.