The Electronic Government Division, SMART Zambia Institute and the Institute of Health Measurement (IHM) has handed over 264 laptops to support the operation of the SmartCare Pro Electronic Health Record system in thirty-three Defence Force health facilities.
Speaking during the official handover ceremony Smart Zambia National Coordinator Mr. Percy Chinyama said the donation aims to improve efficiency, enhance data management and strengthen service delivery in the thirty-three (33) facilities that have already migrated to SmartCare Pro. He noted that the support represents one of the largest targeted investments in digital health within the defence sector and reinforces the national goal of achieving one hundred percent digital health facility coverage.
During the event, Mr. Chinyama thanked the Institute for Health Measurement for providing loan servers, routers and technical support that enabled Defence facilities to continue operating SmartCare Pro while permanent infrastructure was being procured. He further acknowledged the United States Government for its long-standing investment in the digital health sector and for supporting the migration of data to permanent servers now being installed across Defence sites.
Meanwhile, Defence Force Medical Services representative Brigadier General Dr. Levy Muchemwa said the adoption of SmartCare Pro marks a major step forward in strengthening healthcare services for uniformed personnel, their families and surrounding communities. He noted that the Defence Force has successfully migrated from the legacy SmartCare system to a fully online platform and commended partners for supporting digital transformation efforts that began with user acceptance testing in 2024.
And IHM Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mr. Kelvin Sikwibele explained that an assessment conducted earlier revealed equipment gaps that limited the full use of SmartCare Pro in Defence facilities. He said the provision of laptops will help ensure that every service delivery point can now operate the system, allowing SmartCare Pro to serve not only HIV services but the entire spectrum of healthcare. He urged health personnel to champion the full use of the platform as part of building a more efficient, integrated service.
And United States Government representative Ms. Franchesckie Velez said the donation of devices will strengthen data integrity and improve the management of health information for thousands of Defence personnel and beneficiaries. She reaffirmed continued support through the Health Coordination Office and partners to ensure secure, high-quality data for service delivery and decision-making.
The handover marks a shared commitment by Smart Zambia Institute, IHM, CDC, CIDRZ and the Department of Defense to strengthen digital health foundations and improve service delivery for the Defence Force of Zambia.
