Huye — The Centre for Treatment and Research and AIDS, Malaria, Tuberculosis and other Epidemics (TRAC plus) has urged nurses in the country to embrace Internet and mobile phone use in giving reports.

The call was made during two-day training on TRAC net, an electronic report system designed by TRAC to facilitate information transfer.

The training attracted 45 nurses from Huye District hospitals and other health centres last week.

Dr. Evariste Ntaganda, who officiated at the training, told the participants that Internet is the most effective and speedy way to transfer messages in a short time and at low cost.

He explained that since the Internet is not widely used in rural areas, TRAC Plus has set up a new electronic report system for health centres to enable health workers submit their reports to TRAC plus or the Ministry of Health using their mobile phones.

"It is costly and time consuming to submit reports in printed documents. So, TRAC plus is conducting this type of training across the country to improve and shift the reporting system from print to electronic," Ntaganda said.

Jeanne Gasana, one of trainees, said the training would enable them make timely reports.

"We are going to use this new report system to improve our daily work and reporting," Gasana said.

She added that people used to travel long distances to submit their report to the nearest centres or Kigali.

The trainees were also briefed on HIV monitoring.